WEBVTT

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 Father, it's very easy for us not to take your word seriously, to neither take your

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 great mind-blowing promises very seriously, nor to take your warnings very seriously.

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 So Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit would do a work in our minds and hearts and wills

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 that our minds and hearts and wills cannot do by themselves.

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 We ask that your Holy Spirit would move mightily in our mind and heart and will, our very soul,

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 our very body, so that we might hear your word, both your warnings and your promises, and

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 that your word will come into our lives and that we will be good soil so that as your

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 word comes into our lives, our life, we will bear much fruit for your glory.

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 Father, please so pour out your Holy Spirit upon us at this time.

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 We ask in the name of Jesus.

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 Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 Jesus is very clear and the Bible is very clear.

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 Hell exists.

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 Jesus is very clear and the Bible is very clear.

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 Hell exists.

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 This is hard to talk about as a Canadian.

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 In fact, the idea of hell, the biblical idea of hell is probably one of the most offensive

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 ideas to most modern and postmodern Canadians.

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 And because it is so offensive to most modern and postmodern Canadians, it's very hard for

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 Christians to actually hear texts about the doctrine of hell.

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 And that's on top of the normal types of worries and concerns that we have just as human beings.

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 But the Bible, Jesus is very clear and the Bible is very clear.

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 Hell exists.

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 Some of you might be wondering why on earth I would preach on a text like this and talk

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 about hell.

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 At Church of the Messiah, our mission is, I express our mission nowadays is making disciples

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 gripped by the gospel living for God's glory.

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 And we understand that we believe that God is trying to build us, is building us into

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 a prayerful Bible teaching evangelical church in the heart of the city with a heart for the

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 city and the world.

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 That's our vision.

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 And one of the main ways that we try to do that is on Sunday mornings when we gather,

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 we preach through books of the Bible.

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 And by doing so, we hope that it's the Bible that sets the agenda for us.

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 It's the Bible that forms us rather than us trying to form ourselves.

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 And so we've been preaching through the book of Revelation.

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 And the next two Sundays, last Sunday, we talked primarily about two of the most wonderful images

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 about what God has in store for us in heaven.

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 And in chapter 21 and chapter 22, we're going to have two weeks where we see how the Bible

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 tries to heal and discipline our desires by painting the most spectacular pictures of our destiny

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 in Christ.

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 But before we get that, we get to chapter 20.

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 And very, very four times the Bible text here talks about the lake of fire.

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 And so we're going to talk about that.

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 And I know that for many people, just mentioning hell and even saying that hell exists, that it's real,

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 is very alienating.

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 For many people in Canada, they will say that they are concerned about love and freedom and integrity

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 and being inclusive.

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 And hell comes across as unloving, unjust, repressive, and exclusive.

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 Everything which most Canadians don't want to have anything to do with.

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 But we're going to look into this topic today.

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 And so if you have your Bibles, and hopefully you do, let's look at Revelation chapter 20 together.

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 And if you've forgotten your Bibles, you don't have one, there's always a few Bibles up here at the front.

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 You're welcome to take one.

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 You can keep it as a gift or you can return it afterwards.

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 That's up to you.

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 And Revelation is the last book in the Bible.

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 And let's read it together and just once again hear what it is that the Bible does and does not say

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 about this idea of the lake of fire or of hell.

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 Revelation chapter 20.

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 Actually, before I read it, and just in case you're worried,

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 some of you who come to the church regularly, you'll know that most weeks I have either a three- or a four-point sermon.

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 I'm actually going to have 11 different things on the slide.

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 That means I'm not going to spend 10 minutes on each point or we'd have a two-hour sermon.

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 Can I hear some people say amen?

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 That would be a good thing.

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 No.

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 But because the topic is so serious and so controversial,

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 some of these points will just be up on the screen very, very briefly because I'll say them briefly.

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 But they'll all be online within a day or two, as will be the sermon.

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 And you can look, if you like to take notes or you want to write them down later, you can go online.

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 But just before we read Revelation chapter 20, I want to make something clearer to sort of unpack that statement.

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 The first one is this, or the second point, but is that the New Testament is clearer

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 and more insistent on the reality of hell than the Old Testament is.

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 The New Testament is clearer and more insistent on the reality of hell than the Old Testament is.

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 This is very important because many, many people will say that the Old Testament teaches a God of justice and wrath,

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 and the New Testament teaches a God of love and acceptance,

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 that the Old Testament prophets were all doom and gloom, and that Jesus is all about love.

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 But the fact of the matter is that the Old Testament is clearer and more insistent on the reality of hell than the Old Testament is.

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 Furthermore, every New Testament writer teaches that hell exists,

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 and no biblical writer contradicts what Revelation 20 teaches.

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 Every New Testament writer teaches that hell exists,

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 and no biblical writer contradicts what Revelation 20 teaches.

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 Now, I'm not saying that every New Testament book talks about hell.

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 I use the word writer, but in fact, the New Testament at a human level is written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, John,

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 Paul, Peter, James, and the unknown writer of Hebrews.

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 Eight writers.

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 And if you go back and check the books written by those eight writers,

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 humanly speaking written by those eight writers,

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 you will see that all of them mention hell.

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 Every single one.

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 Here's the next thing.

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 Jesus teaches that hell exists, and nothing he says contradicts what Revelation 20 teaches.

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 Jesus teaches that hell exists, and nothing he says contradicts what Revelation 20 teaches.

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 In fact, Jesus talks about hell more than any other writer in the New Testament.

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 Every week, I don't know how many of you notice it,

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 how many of you pick up the bulletins and stuff like that,

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 but every week, I mean, there's announcements and stuff and some information.

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 There's also a blog that I write that later on goes online,

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 and then there's something called Growing in Grace that I think also goes online.

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 And sort of at the back of the bulletin, there's usually most weeks something called Going Deeper,

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 and that's just something you can do by yourself,

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 but it's even better if you connect with a few other people,

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 and you look at some extra scripture texts that touch on the scripture texts that I preach on.

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 And this week, I just give you a small sampling of some of Jesus' teachings on hell,

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 and that's part of the Going Deeper thing in your bulletin,

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 which if you lose your bulletin, I believe it's also put online.

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 So mindful that Jesus teaches that hell exists,

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 and nothing he says contradicts what Revelation 20 teaches,

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 let's start to read Revelation chapter 20.

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 It begins like this.

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 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven,

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 holding in his hand the key to the abyss, or the bottomless pit,

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 and a great chain.

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 And he, that's the angel, seized the dragon,

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 that ancient serpent who is called the devil and Satan,

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 and bound him for a thousand years,

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 and threw him into the pit, the abyss,

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 and shut it and sealed it over him,

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 so that he might not deceive the nations any longer

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 until the thousand years were ended.

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 After that, he must be released for a little while.

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 Just sort of pause for a second.

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 This is a bit of an aside in terms of the overall sermon,

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 but it's actually very, very important,

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 and it does sort of fit.

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 It's a very, very important point,

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 and that is this.

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 At no time in the past, present, or future

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 is the devil equal with God.

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 At no time in the past, present, or future

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 is the devil equal with God.

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 It's a very common part in general writing in our culture

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 and thinking about the culture

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 as if sort of there's the devil and there's God.

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 And that's sort of believing the devil's propaganda.

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 And the Bible is very clear,

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 and the book of Revelation

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 constantly gives very, very powerful imagery

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 to show this.

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 So even here in these three verses,

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 it's not God that deals with the devil.

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 He sends an angel.

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 He doesn't even send an archangel.

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 He doesn't even send one of the four living creatures

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 that are closest to the throne.

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 He doesn't have to pick his biggest guns.

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 He just sends an angel.

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 And an angel binds Satan with no effort

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 and casts him into the pit.

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 And if you go back and you look

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 through all the book of Revelation,

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 there's several times in the book of Revelation,

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 it'll come up in a few verses,

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 where the devil gathers an army to fight against God.

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 And every time the army,

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 the devil gathers this massive army

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 to fight against God,

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 or the beast, or the false prophet,

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 in every case they all gather,

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 armed to the teeth, ready for war,

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 God shows up, and there's no battle.

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 The devil instantly finds himself defeated.

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 And so it's very important for us

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 to hear this,

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 that the propaganda,

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 that somehow there's a type of equality

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 between the devil and God,

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 it's just completely and utterly rejected in the Bible.

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 God has no equal.

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 He has rivals,

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 in the sense of people who,

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 idols and demons,

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 who are rivals for our affection.

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 But he has no true rival.

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 There are no other gods.

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 And the devil is not his equal.

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 This is also very important for us

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 in several other ways.

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 And that is because

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 one of the things about evil in our lives,

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 whether it's just moral evil,

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 or whether it's a type of demonic evil,

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 is that moral evil and demonic evil

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 always talks as if it is inevitable

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 and undefeatable.

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 And as if it has a proper claim.

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 And as if you have to surrender to it

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 because you will suffer harm

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 if you do not surrender to it

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 because it is inevitable.

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 And whether that evil

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 is a type of evil in society,

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 that slavery is inevitable,

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 for instance,

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 which is what people would have said

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 to Wilberforce,

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 or in our day

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 that things like maybe abortion

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 are inevitable,

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 that they can never be defeated,

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 that they are here to stay,

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 that any type of evil

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 will always claim

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 that it is inevitable

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 and unable to be defeated.

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 And this is never true.

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 It is never true.

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 And it's pictured in picture language

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 here in the book of Revelation.

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 But just an angel

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 goes and binds Satan

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 for a thousand years.

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 Just an angel.

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 At no time in the past,

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 present, or future,

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 is the devil equal with God.

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 Now, we're going to keep reading,

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 and I apologize to some people.

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 Some people here,

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 you've been putting up

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 with me preaching on Revelation

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 for so many weeks,

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 and you've been desperately

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 wanting to find out

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 if George is a premillennialist,

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 an amillennialist,

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 or a postmillennialist.

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 And those of you

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 who aren't used to

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 that type of Christian language,

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 you've just wondered,

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 what on earth I said?

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 But for certain people

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 in Christian culture,

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 this is the big question.

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 And whole denominations

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 are partially founded

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 on whether you're premillennial,

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 amillennial,

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 or postmillennial.

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 And in fact,

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 all that argument

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 comes up in these few verses

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 in Revelation chapter 20.

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 And I'm going to read it.

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 It's very controversial,

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 but I'm going to bypass it

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 with a simple little comment,

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 because I think

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 in our day and age,

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 the far more pressing question

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 is what exactly

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 is the lake of fire?

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 And are people

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 actually cast into it

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 by God?

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 And does hell exist?

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 But to get to those texts,

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 we have to read through

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 this text.

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 So let's continue

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 at verse 4.

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 So the devil's just been

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 released for a little while.

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 Then verse 4,

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 then I saw thrones

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 and seated on them

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 were those to whom

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 the authority to judge

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 was committed.

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 Also I saw the souls

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 of those who had been

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 beheaded for the testimony

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 of Jesus and for the word

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 of God,

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 and those who had not

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 worshipped the beast

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 or its image

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 and had not received

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 its mark on their foreheads

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 or their hands.

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 They came to life

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 and reigned with Christ

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 for a thousand years.

00:13:56.560 --> 00:13:57.639
 The rest of the dead

00:13:57.639 --> 00:13:58.840
 did not come to life

00:13:58.840 --> 00:14:00.120
 until the thousand years

00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:00.660
 were ended.

00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:03.019
 This is the first resurrection.

00:14:03.300 --> 00:14:04.160
 Blessed and holy

00:14:04.160 --> 00:14:04.800
 is the one

00:14:04.800 --> 00:14:05.540
 who shares

00:14:05.540 --> 00:14:06.840
 in the first resurrection.

00:14:07.100 --> 00:14:07.820
 Over such,

00:14:07.940 --> 00:14:08.680
 the second death

00:14:08.679 --> 00:14:09.500
 has no power.

00:14:10.239 --> 00:14:10.799
 But they

00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:12.279
 will be priests

00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:12.739
 of God

00:14:12.739 --> 00:14:13.379
 and of Christ

00:14:13.379 --> 00:14:14.199
 and they will reign

00:14:14.199 --> 00:14:14.620
 with him

00:14:14.620 --> 00:14:15.779
 for a thousand years.

00:14:16.579 --> 00:14:17.979
 And when the thousand years

00:14:17.979 --> 00:14:18.399
 are ended,

00:14:18.579 --> 00:14:19.500
 Satan will be released

00:14:19.500 --> 00:14:20.299
 from his prison,

00:14:21.159 --> 00:14:21.539
 the pit,

00:14:21.659 --> 00:14:22.120
 the abyss,

00:14:22.539 --> 00:14:23.219
 and will come out

00:14:23.219 --> 00:14:24.239
 to deceive the nations

00:14:24.239 --> 00:14:25.500
 that are at the four corners

00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:26.019
 of the earth,

00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:28.219
 Gog and Magog,

00:14:28.359 --> 00:14:29.539
 to gather them for battle.

00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:30.699
 Their number is like

00:14:30.699 --> 00:14:31.579
 the sand of the sea

00:14:31.579 --> 00:14:32.379
 and they marched up

00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:33.339
 over the broad plain

00:14:33.339 --> 00:14:33.759
 of the earth

00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:34.919
 and surrounded the camp

00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:35.519
 of the saints

00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:36.439
 in the beloved city.

00:14:37.599 --> 00:14:37.779
 Ha!

00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:39.039
 What happens?

00:14:39.139 --> 00:14:39.919
 But fire came down

00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:40.319
 from heaven

00:14:40.319 --> 00:14:41.120
 and consumed them.

00:14:41.419 --> 00:14:42.079
 There's no fight.

00:14:43.199 --> 00:14:43.620
 And the devil

00:14:43.620 --> 00:14:44.439
 who had deceived them

00:14:44.439 --> 00:14:45.000
 was thrown

00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:46.299
 into the lake of fire

00:14:46.299 --> 00:14:46.899
 and sulfur

00:14:46.899 --> 00:14:47.899
 where the beast

00:14:47.899 --> 00:14:49.100
 and the false prophet were.

00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:50.059
 That was last week,

00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:50.879
 chapter 19.

00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:52.720
 And they will be tormented

00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:53.379
 day and night

00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:54.500
 forever and ever.

00:14:55.299 --> 00:14:56.259
 Let's just pause there.

00:14:56.339 --> 00:14:57.100
 You can keep your finger

00:14:57.100 --> 00:14:57.620
 in the Bible.

00:14:58.819 --> 00:14:59.740
 Just a very,

00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:00.639
 very brief comment

00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:01.480
 about the millennium

00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:02.299
 and all that stuff.

00:15:02.299 --> 00:15:08.399
 I read 20 pages

00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:10.679
 of a big hardcover

00:15:10.679 --> 00:15:12.459
 academic commentary

00:15:12.459 --> 00:15:13.919
 going through

00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:15.019
 Greek tenses

00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:16.279
 and verbs

00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:18.240
 and roots

00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:21.139
 and trying to decide

00:15:21.139 --> 00:15:21.979
 how much of this

00:15:21.979 --> 00:15:22.740
 is symbolic

00:15:22.740 --> 00:15:23.779
 and how much

00:15:23.779 --> 00:15:24.500
 of it's literal.

00:15:25.859 --> 00:15:27.199
 And, you know,

00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:28.659
 I wrestled with it,

00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:29.719
 made notes and stuff.

00:15:29.779 --> 00:15:30.299
 At the end of it,

00:15:30.299 --> 00:15:31.479
 I actually did

00:15:31.479 --> 00:15:32.279
 something like this.

00:15:32.459 --> 00:15:33.000
 It was actually

00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:33.519
 in this book.

00:15:33.579 --> 00:15:34.019
 It's sort of

00:15:34.019 --> 00:15:34.799
 before my notes.

00:15:35.539 --> 00:15:36.339
 And I sort of put the,

00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:38.159
 sort of put my Bible down

00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:38.699
 and the book down.

00:15:38.779 --> 00:15:39.519
 I sort of sat back

00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:39.779
 and thought,

00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:40.059
 you know,

00:15:40.439 --> 00:15:42.419
 I don't have to figure

00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:43.159
 this stuff out.

00:15:43.740 --> 00:15:44.479
 God's going to do

00:15:44.479 --> 00:15:45.559
 what God's going to do.

00:15:47.779 --> 00:15:48.899
 I don't have to figure out

00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:49.759
 whether there's going to be

00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:51.019
 a literal thousand years

00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:52.519
 and it's exactly literal

00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:53.079
 like this

00:15:53.079 --> 00:15:54.539
 or whether the thousand years

00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:55.439
 is just a picture

00:15:55.439 --> 00:15:56.139
 of the church.

00:15:56.319 --> 00:15:56.879
 It's a symbolism

00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:58.279
 of the current situation

00:15:58.279 --> 00:15:58.879
 and then Jesus

00:15:58.879 --> 00:15:59.779
 just comes back.

00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:00.579
 It's all,

00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:01.339
 I don't have to figure it out.

00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:01.839
 God's going to do

00:16:01.839 --> 00:16:02.600
 what God's going to do.

00:16:03.579 --> 00:16:03.720
 I mean,

00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:04.079
 that's something

00:16:04.079 --> 00:16:05.059
 we should get an amen for.

00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:06.220
 We're not an amen

00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:07.199
 type of congregation.

00:16:10.079 --> 00:16:11.179
 Not that that would be bad

00:16:11.179 --> 00:16:12.059
 if we became one.

00:16:12.459 --> 00:16:13.620
 But that's just sort of,

00:16:13.659 --> 00:16:14.559
 so I'm not going to tell you,

00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:15.000
 you know,

00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:16.519
 my view on it

00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:17.240
 is God's going to do

00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:18.139
 what God's going to do.

00:16:19.220 --> 00:16:20.240
 The real thing

00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:22.240
 for most Canadians

00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:23.279
 is that verse 10,

00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:23.919
 and the devil

00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:27.699
 who had deceived them

00:16:27.699 --> 00:16:28.419
 was thrown into

00:16:28.419 --> 00:16:29.179
 the lake of fire

00:16:29.179 --> 00:16:29.699
 and sulfur

00:16:29.699 --> 00:16:30.319
 where the beast

00:16:30.319 --> 00:16:31.500
 and the false prophet were

00:16:31.500 --> 00:16:32.819
 and they will be tormented

00:16:32.819 --> 00:16:33.559
 day and night

00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:35.600
 forever and ever.

00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:40.080
 So let's start to try

00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:40.820
 to unpack it.

00:16:41.040 --> 00:16:41.540
 The first thing

00:16:41.540 --> 00:16:42.360
 I want to say is this,

00:16:42.420 --> 00:16:43.060
 if you could put it up

00:16:43.060 --> 00:16:43.639
 on the screen.

00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:45.899
 Hell is a real place

00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:46.980
 of punishment,

00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:48.300
 destruction,

00:16:48.299 --> 00:16:49.879
 and banishment.

00:16:51.479 --> 00:16:53.179
 Hell is a real place

00:16:53.179 --> 00:16:54.120
 of punishment,

00:16:54.599 --> 00:16:55.139
 destruction,

00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:56.399
 and banishment.

00:16:56.839 --> 00:16:57.879
 And I put place

00:16:57.879 --> 00:16:58.959
 in quotation marks

00:16:58.959 --> 00:16:59.859
 not because I'm trying

00:16:59.859 --> 00:17:00.979
 to get out of anything.

00:17:02.339 --> 00:17:03.799
 What the Bible is teaching

00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:06.639
 is that hell is real

00:17:06.639 --> 00:17:08.359
 in the fullest sense

00:17:08.359 --> 00:17:09.079
 of the word.

00:17:10.859 --> 00:17:11.200
 But,

00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:13.119
 I'm not going to,

00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:13.639
 hell,

00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:14.599
 I'm not saying a but

00:17:14.599 --> 00:17:15.259
 to get rid of hell

00:17:15.259 --> 00:17:17.579
 is real in the fullest sense

00:17:17.579 --> 00:17:18.299
 of the word

00:17:18.299 --> 00:17:18.740
 and that's what

00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:19.539
 the Bible is teaching.

00:17:20.879 --> 00:17:21.939
 How do these different

00:17:21.939 --> 00:17:22.839
 images go together?

00:17:23.679 --> 00:17:24.279
 Like some of you

00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:24.980
 might be wondering

00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:26.399
 how is it that the Bible

00:17:26.399 --> 00:17:27.220
 talks about,

00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:29.099
 I remember Ken reading

00:17:29.099 --> 00:17:31.279
 that there's a second,

00:17:31.419 --> 00:17:32.139
 like hell is like

00:17:32.139 --> 00:17:33.000
 a second death,

00:17:33.679 --> 00:17:34.539
 but how is it that

00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:35.899
 hell is like a second death

00:17:35.899 --> 00:17:36.579
 and then there's

00:17:36.579 --> 00:17:37.519
 this eternal torment?

00:17:38.199 --> 00:17:39.039
 How is it that,

00:17:39.220 --> 00:17:40.059
 like if you go back,

00:17:40.179 --> 00:17:40.359
 George,

00:17:40.399 --> 00:17:41.579
 and look at Jesus' teaching,

00:17:41.699 --> 00:17:42.579
 how is it that he talks

00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:43.339
 about hell as being

00:17:43.339 --> 00:17:44.359
 a place of darkness

00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:45.279
 yet it's also

00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:46.179
 a place of fire?

00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:47.700
 And I could multiply

00:17:47.700 --> 00:17:48.980
 examples like that.

00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:51.759
 And the fact of the matter

00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:52.259
 is,

00:17:52.539 --> 00:17:54.060
 is that when we look

00:17:54.060 --> 00:17:54.960
 at these types of,

00:17:55.060 --> 00:17:56.400
 when the Bible is talking

00:17:56.400 --> 00:17:57.100
 about something

00:17:57.100 --> 00:17:58.880
 which is literally

00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:00.759
 outside of our experience

00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:01.740
 and our categories

00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:02.360
 of thought.

00:18:03.400 --> 00:18:04.740
 And the Bible is trying

00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:05.960
 to communicate to us

00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:07.120
 something in a series

00:18:07.120 --> 00:18:07.799
 of images

00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:10.180
 and the Bible

00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:10.940
 isn't saying

00:18:10.940 --> 00:18:11.700
 that we should sort of

00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:12.480
 use one image

00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:13.660
 to discard the rest.

00:18:13.660 --> 00:18:15.000
 We use all of the images

00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:17.600
 and we can't figure out

00:18:17.600 --> 00:18:18.779
 on this side of the grave

00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:20.420
 or this side of Jesus returning

00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:21.840
 what parts of these

00:18:21.840 --> 00:18:22.580
 different images

00:18:22.580 --> 00:18:23.400
 are literal

00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:24.960
 and what parts of them

00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:25.700
 are symbolic

00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:26.580
 and metaphorical.

00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:27.920
 We can't figure that out

00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:28.800
 on this side of the grave.

00:18:29.980 --> 00:18:31.500
 But here's what we can know,

00:18:32.040 --> 00:18:33.220
 that both in this teaching

00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:34.300
 of the lake of fire

00:18:34.300 --> 00:18:35.800
 and you look through

00:18:35.800 --> 00:18:37.040
 the New Testament teaching,

00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:39.060
 the New Testament teaching

00:18:39.060 --> 00:18:40.580
 can be summarized in this.

00:18:40.779 --> 00:18:42.660
 Hell is a real place.

00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:44.500
 of punishment,

00:18:45.040 --> 00:18:45.720
 destruction,

00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:47.019
 and banishment.

00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:51.000
 And that's what we can see here

00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:52.580
 even if we're not entirely sure

00:18:52.580 --> 00:18:53.519
 what it means

00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:55.360
 or what's symbolic

00:18:55.360 --> 00:18:56.840
 or what's metaphorical.

00:18:58.340 --> 00:19:00.600
 The question of how

00:19:00.600 --> 00:19:02.640
 fire and darkness

00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:04.140
 and death

00:19:04.140 --> 00:19:04.940
 which implies

00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:06.060
 that it's all over

00:19:06.060 --> 00:19:08.300
 and how that all goes together,

00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:10.360
 God knows how it goes together,

00:19:10.359 --> 00:19:12.399
 but it's

00:19:12.399 --> 00:19:12.939
 we just

00:19:12.939 --> 00:19:14.359
 what we can know is that

00:19:14.359 --> 00:19:16.159
 and that we should not

00:19:16.159 --> 00:19:16.939
 live our lives

00:19:16.939 --> 00:19:18.139
 hoping that it is something

00:19:18.139 --> 00:19:19.019
 other than that.

00:19:21.419 --> 00:19:21.939
 That

00:19:21.939 --> 00:19:25.819
 hell is real

00:19:25.819 --> 00:19:26.939
 in the fullest sense.

00:19:28.979 --> 00:19:29.819
 In fact,

00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:36.279
 when we

00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:38.559
 start to lose

00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:39.359
 a sense

00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:40.220
 of this,

00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:41.559
 that hell

00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:42.460
 is a real place

00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:43.059
 of punishment,

00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:43.740
 destruction,

00:19:43.939 --> 00:19:44.939
 and banishment,

00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:46.599
 when

00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:48.439
 because of the pressure

00:19:48.439 --> 00:19:49.279
 that we feel

00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:50.619
 that

00:19:50.619 --> 00:19:51.859
 to talk about hell

00:19:51.859 --> 00:19:52.619
 is to talk about

00:19:52.619 --> 00:19:53.659
 something which is

00:19:53.659 --> 00:19:54.500
 unjust,

00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:55.599
 unloving,

00:19:57.279 --> 00:19:57.839
 repressive,

00:19:57.839 --> 00:20:00.159
 and exclusive,

00:20:01.159 --> 00:20:02.619
 and so we try

00:20:02.619 --> 00:20:03.339
 to adapt

00:20:03.339 --> 00:20:04.500
 and

00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:07.339
 make hell

00:20:07.339 --> 00:20:08.039
 into a series

00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:08.799
 of metaphors

00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:09.559
 that empties it

00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:10.019
 of this,

00:20:10.779 --> 00:20:11.779
 and I don't mean

00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:12.679
 to offend anybody

00:20:12.679 --> 00:20:13.279
 who's here.

00:20:13.799 --> 00:20:15.139
 I'm sorry if I offend,

00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:16.199
 but I'm going to

00:20:16.199 --> 00:20:16.939
 still say it.

00:20:17.699 --> 00:20:18.500
 To move away

00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.599
 from a doctrine

00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:20.299
 and understanding

00:20:20.299 --> 00:20:20.819
 that the Bible

00:20:20.819 --> 00:20:21.579
 teaches something

00:20:21.579 --> 00:20:22.099
 like this

00:20:22.099 --> 00:20:22.639
 is to move

00:20:22.639 --> 00:20:24.339
 into residual

00:20:24.339 --> 00:20:25.379
 Christianity,

00:20:25.380 --> 00:20:27.860
 not full-bodied

00:20:27.860 --> 00:20:29.120
 Christianity.

00:20:29.620 --> 00:20:30.520
 It's to move

00:20:30.520 --> 00:20:31.500
 to a residual

00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:33.020
 understanding

00:20:33.020 --> 00:20:34.080
 of who Jesus is.

00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:34.620
 It's to move

00:20:34.620 --> 00:20:36.240
 into abstractions

00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:36.960
 in something

00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:38.060
 which is ephemeral

00:20:38.060 --> 00:20:39.160
 and something

00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:40.220
 which lasts substance.

00:20:41.040 --> 00:20:41.620
 It's to move

00:20:41.620 --> 00:20:42.660
 away from Jesus

00:20:42.660 --> 00:20:44.120
 in his full reality

00:20:44.120 --> 00:20:44.860
 and God

00:20:44.860 --> 00:20:45.800
 in his full

00:20:45.800 --> 00:20:46.760
 existence.

00:20:47.400 --> 00:20:48.080
 It is to move

00:20:48.080 --> 00:20:49.040
 away from something

00:20:49.040 --> 00:20:50.280
 which is full-bodied

00:20:50.280 --> 00:20:51.340
 and full-throated

00:20:51.340 --> 00:20:52.100
 and able

00:20:52.100 --> 00:20:53.060
 to save

00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:54.859
 and deliver.

00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:57.200
 And to move

00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:57.899
 away from this

00:20:57.899 --> 00:20:58.399
 is to move

00:20:58.399 --> 00:20:59.339
 into residual

00:20:59.339 --> 00:21:00.119
 Christianity,

00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:01.259
 not into deeper

00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:01.899
 Christianity.

00:21:05.259 --> 00:21:06.139
 Now some of you

00:21:06.139 --> 00:21:06.299
 say,

00:21:06.379 --> 00:21:06.539
 okay,

00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:06.960
 George,

00:21:08.379 --> 00:21:11.200
 don't you think

00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:12.779
 that if that's true,

00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:14.099
 if hell is a real

00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:14.720
 place,

00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:16.299
 and you're putting

00:21:16.299 --> 00:21:17.119
 place because

00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:17.839
 when you're talking

00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:18.079
 about,

00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:19.980
 what's it like

00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:20.480
 to step out

00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:21.159
 of time?

00:21:21.160 --> 00:21:24.180
 I sort of get it,

00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:24.900
 but if you're really

00:21:24.900 --> 00:21:25.200
 saying,

00:21:25.340 --> 00:21:25.580
 George,

00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:26.560
 that hell is real

00:21:26.560 --> 00:21:27.040
 in the fullest

00:21:27.040 --> 00:21:28.019
 sense of the word

00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:29.580
 and it's a place,

00:21:29.880 --> 00:21:30.840
 whatever that means

00:21:30.840 --> 00:21:31.920
 in terms of the new

00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:32.540
 heaven and the new

00:21:32.540 --> 00:21:34.000
 earth and all,

00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:35.960
 but it's real

00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:36.779
 punishment,

00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:37.380
 destruction,

00:21:37.560 --> 00:21:37.920
 banishment.

00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:38.900
 George,

00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:40.120
 if Jesus taught

00:21:40.120 --> 00:21:40.440
 that,

00:21:40.540 --> 00:21:41.040
 don't you think

00:21:41.040 --> 00:21:41.440
 he's a bit

00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:42.300
 of a scoundrel?

00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:45.120
 Don't you think

00:21:45.120 --> 00:21:45.880
 he maybe needs

00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:46.640
 to know the Buddha?

00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:49.140
 Don't you think,

00:21:49.360 --> 00:21:49.560
 George,

00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:50.779
 that type of

00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:51.619
 teaching is

00:21:51.619 --> 00:21:52.799
 unloving

00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:54.139
 and repressive?

00:21:59.200 --> 00:21:59.879
 We're going to

00:21:59.879 --> 00:22:01.000
 talk about that

00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:01.319
 now,

00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:02.319
 but before I do,

00:22:02.359 --> 00:22:02.799
 I'm going to dig

00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.599
 myself deeper

00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:04.259
 into a hole.

00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:06.019
 I'm going to say

00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:07.059
 this before we

00:22:07.059 --> 00:22:08.079
 read Revelation

00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:09.000
 chapter 11,

00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:10.599
 20 verses 11

00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:11.240
 to 15,

00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:12.740
 because up until

00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:13.339
 now it's just

00:22:13.339 --> 00:22:13.819
 been like the

00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:14.319
 devil and the

00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:14.720
 beast and the

00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:15.339
 false prophet

00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:16.019
 who are in

00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:16.259
 hell,

00:22:16.419 --> 00:22:17.240
 but Revelation

00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:18.099
 20 is going

00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:18.559
 to end with

00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:19.200
 people being

00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:20.619
 thrown into

00:22:20.619 --> 00:22:20.919
 the lake

00:22:20.919 --> 00:22:21.379
 of fire.

00:22:21.619 --> 00:22:21.879
 I'm going

00:22:21.879 --> 00:22:22.139
 to say

00:22:22.139 --> 00:22:22.480
 this,

00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:23.839
 Canadians

00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:24.919
 see the

00:22:24.919 --> 00:22:25.200
 biblical

00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:26.339
 teaching on

00:22:26.339 --> 00:22:27.980
 hell as

00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:28.539
 causing

00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:29.339
 spiritual,

00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:30.480
 moral,

00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:31.419
 and intellectual

00:22:31.419 --> 00:22:32.159
 problems,

00:22:32.659 --> 00:22:33.359
 but the

00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:34.279
 Bible presents

00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:34.919
 hell as

00:22:34.919 --> 00:22:35.559
 solving

00:22:35.559 --> 00:22:36.679
 spiritual,

00:22:37.059 --> 00:22:37.259
 moral,

00:22:37.619 --> 00:22:38.319
 and intellectual

00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:39.159
 problems.

00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:40.819
 That's part of

00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:41.339
 the problem

00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:42.659
 why I say

00:22:42.659 --> 00:22:43.179
 that to move

00:22:43.179 --> 00:22:43.720
 away from

00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:44.819
 understanding hell

00:22:44.819 --> 00:22:45.500
 as being real

00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:46.019
 is to end

00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:46.400
 up moving

00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:47.279
 into residual

00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:48.119
 Christianity,

00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:48.759
 not real

00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:49.359
 Christianity.

00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:49.940
 And I don't

00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:50.279
 mean to

00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:50.640
 offend,

00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:51.920
 I probably

00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:52.559
 just offended

00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:53.380
 virtually every

00:22:53.380 --> 00:22:53.900
 Anglican

00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:54.619
 United Church

00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:55.099
 minister in

00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:55.460
 the city

00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:55.980
 by saying

00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:56.240
 that.

00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:01.400
 And in

00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:01.640
 many

00:23:01.640 --> 00:23:02.559
 evangelical

00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:03.500
 denominations,

00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:03.920
 there would

00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:04.299
 be a whole

00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:04.740
 pile of

00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:05.400
 youth pastors

00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:06.420
 and even

00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:07.279
 senior pastors

00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:08.339
 who for me

00:23:08.339 --> 00:23:09.000
 to say that

00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:09.380
 will have

00:23:09.380 --> 00:23:09.960
 gotten very

00:23:09.960 --> 00:23:11.599
 squirmy and

00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:11.960
 would maybe

00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:12.299
 end up,

00:23:12.359 --> 00:23:12.779
 if this was

00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:13.180
 a room that

00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:13.720
 I was speaking

00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:14.220
 to of them,

00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:14.500
 they would

00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:14.880
 send me

00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:15.539
 angry emails

00:23:15.539 --> 00:23:16.079
 afterwards.

00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:18.620
 But the

00:23:18.620 --> 00:23:19.059
 fact of the

00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:19.539
 matter is,

00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:19.819
 is that

00:23:19.819 --> 00:23:20.600
 Canadians see

00:23:20.600 --> 00:23:21.059
 the biblical

00:23:21.059 --> 00:23:21.860
 teaching on

00:23:21.860 --> 00:23:22.240
 hell as

00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:22.720
 causing

00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:23.299
 spiritual,

00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:23.640
 moral,

00:23:23.740 --> 00:23:24.319
 and intellectual

00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:25.100
 problems,

00:23:25.100 --> 00:23:26.360
 but the

00:23:26.360 --> 00:23:27.200
 Bible presents

00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:27.700
 hell as

00:23:27.700 --> 00:23:28.240
 solving

00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:29.319
 spiritual,

00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:29.740
 moral,

00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:30.519
 and intellectual

00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:31.160
 problems.

00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:34.799
 Now,

00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:35.180
 I'm going to

00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:35.600
 give you a

00:23:35.600 --> 00:23:36.120
 couple of

00:23:36.120 --> 00:23:37.339
 examples in

00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:37.740
 a moment

00:23:37.740 --> 00:23:38.880
 as to

00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:40.059
 what I mean

00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:40.579
 by some of

00:23:40.579 --> 00:23:40.740
 that,

00:23:40.819 --> 00:23:41.240
 to try to

00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:41.839
 see that,

00:23:41.900 --> 00:23:42.240
 in fact,

00:23:42.339 --> 00:23:42.740
 the teaching

00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:43.100
 on hell

00:23:43.099 --> 00:23:43.740
 does solve

00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:44.459
 problems,

00:23:45.379 --> 00:23:45.599
 that,

00:23:45.699 --> 00:23:46.139
 in fact,

00:23:46.459 --> 00:23:47.199
 to deny

00:23:47.199 --> 00:23:48.179
 hell causes

00:23:48.179 --> 00:23:49.099
 more problems

00:23:49.099 --> 00:23:49.559
 than it is

00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:50.240
 to uphold

00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:50.759
 the teaching

00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.000
 of hell.

00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:51.240
 I'm going to

00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:51.599
 give you a

00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:52.219
 few examples

00:23:52.219 --> 00:23:52.859
 about that,

00:23:53.419 --> 00:23:54.299
 thought experiments

00:23:54.299 --> 00:23:54.799
 in a moment,

00:23:54.879 --> 00:23:56.299
 to try to help

00:23:56.299 --> 00:23:56.839
 you to see

00:23:56.839 --> 00:23:57.159
 that.

00:23:57.859 --> 00:23:58.459
 These are all

00:23:58.459 --> 00:23:59.199
 secondary to

00:23:59.199 --> 00:23:59.639
 the Bible,

00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:00.019
 because,

00:24:00.119 --> 00:24:00.339
 you see,

00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:01.339
 one of the

00:24:01.339 --> 00:24:02.039
 things is that

00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:02.599
 the Bible,

00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:03.579
 part of the

00:24:03.579 --> 00:24:04.439
 thing is that,

00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:04.619
 you know,

00:24:04.679 --> 00:24:05.139
 for us,

00:24:05.199 --> 00:24:06.179
 it's so easy

00:24:06.179 --> 00:24:06.799
 for us to

00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:07.759
 think of God

00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.839
 as being tiny

00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:09.659
 and people

00:24:09.659 --> 00:24:10.519
 as being big,

00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:11.919
 that Canada

00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:12.860
 is big

00:24:12.860 --> 00:24:13.480
 and God

00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:13.940
 is tiny,

00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:14.380
 that my

00:24:14.380 --> 00:24:15.180
 problems are

00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:16.600
 big and God

00:24:16.600 --> 00:24:17.200
 is tiny.

00:24:17.580 --> 00:24:18.360
 It's so easy

00:24:18.360 --> 00:24:18.900
 for us to

00:24:18.900 --> 00:24:19.580
 think of God

00:24:19.580 --> 00:24:20.060
 as being,

00:24:20.519 --> 00:24:20.680
 you know,

00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:21.279
 it's so easy,

00:24:21.380 --> 00:24:21.519
 you know,

00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:21.980
 many of you have

00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:22.480
 heard me speak

00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:23.220
 before that the

00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:23.860
 normal way that

00:24:23.860 --> 00:24:24.460
 we understand

00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:26.160
 Jesus coming

00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:26.920
 into a locked

00:24:26.920 --> 00:24:27.360
 room,

00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.500
 you know,

00:24:28.560 --> 00:24:29.140
 we think of him

00:24:29.140 --> 00:24:29.700
 in terms of

00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:30.380
 Star Trek

00:24:30.380 --> 00:24:31.340
 analogies,

00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:32.680
 and we think

00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:33.140
 that somehow

00:24:33.140 --> 00:24:33.460
 or another

00:24:33.460 --> 00:24:33.880
 it's as if

00:24:33.880 --> 00:24:34.680
 Jesus becomes

00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:35.500
 like immaterial,

00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:36.720
 like a ray

00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:37.860
 or like sunlight,

00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:39.559
 and he becomes

00:24:39.559 --> 00:24:40.259
 so immaterial

00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:40.740
 that he can

00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:41.339
 pass through the

00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:41.959
 walls and come

00:24:41.959 --> 00:24:42.459
 in the room,

00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:43.339
 but the Bible

00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:44.139
 understands that

00:24:44.139 --> 00:24:44.619
 what's happened

00:24:44.619 --> 00:24:45.079
 with Jesus

00:24:45.079 --> 00:24:45.779
 is that Jesus

00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:46.559
 after he's died

00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:47.059
 and risen from

00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:47.339
 the dead,

00:24:47.619 --> 00:24:48.559
 he's so real

00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.259
 that the walls

00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:49.740
 are as if

00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:50.559
 they are immaterial,

00:24:51.159 --> 00:24:51.759
 that Jesus

00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:52.719
 is more real

00:24:52.719 --> 00:24:53.459
 than the walls,

00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:55.119
 that God

00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:55.959
 is more real

00:24:55.959 --> 00:24:56.759
 than we are,

00:24:57.119 --> 00:24:57.859
 that God

00:24:57.859 --> 00:24:59.379
 is more real

00:24:59.379 --> 00:25:00.479
 than we are,

00:25:01.319 --> 00:25:02.559
 and so it is

00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:02.979
 that for the

00:25:02.979 --> 00:25:03.679
 Bible writers

00:25:03.679 --> 00:25:04.679
 who have this

00:25:04.679 --> 00:25:05.619
 deeper view of

00:25:05.619 --> 00:25:06.339
 God than is

00:25:06.339 --> 00:25:07.219
 common for us

00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:07.880
 as Canadians,

00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:09.480
 they understand

00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:10.700
 the huge problems,

00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:11.740
 how can the

00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:13.220
 unclean dwell

00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:13.940
 with the clean

00:25:13.940 --> 00:25:14.360
 forever,

00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:15.440
 how can the

00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:16.799
 impure dwell

00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:17.620
 with the pure,

00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:18.660
 how can the

00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:19.759
 evil dwell

00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:20.640
 with perfect

00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:21.519
 goodness,

00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.940
 how can that

00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:25.339
 which is of

00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:26.120
 darkness,

00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:27.339
 not only that

00:25:27.339 --> 00:25:27.700
 which is,

00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:28.779
 how can darkness

00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:29.480
 dwell with

00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:30.680
 unapproachable

00:25:30.680 --> 00:25:31.079
 light,

00:25:31.339 --> 00:25:32.420
 how can darkness

00:25:32.420 --> 00:25:33.420
 dwell with light,

00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:34.759
 how can darkness

00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:35.920
 dwell not only

00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:36.839
 with unapproachable

00:25:36.839 --> 00:25:37.059
 light,

00:25:37.139 --> 00:25:37.899
 but how can we

00:25:37.899 --> 00:25:38.959
 ever approach

00:25:38.959 --> 00:25:40.720
 unapproachable

00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:41.339
 light,

00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:42.599
 and the Bible

00:25:42.599 --> 00:25:42.859
 see,

00:25:43.099 --> 00:25:44.000
 and how is it

00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:44.859
 that God can be

00:25:44.859 --> 00:25:45.839
 completely and utterly,

00:25:46.339 --> 00:25:47.459
 how is it that we

00:25:47.459 --> 00:25:48.480
 can do bad things,

00:25:48.619 --> 00:25:49.859
 and God must judge

00:25:49.859 --> 00:25:51.000
 these bad things,

00:25:51.099 --> 00:25:51.759
 and the Bible

00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:52.959
 has this

00:25:52.959 --> 00:25:53.799
 deeper,

00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:54.639
 richer,

00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:55.819
 more powerful

00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:57.379
 understanding of

00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:58.139
 the existence

00:25:58.139 --> 00:25:59.039
 and the reality

00:25:59.039 --> 00:25:59.619
 of God,

00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.799
 and at no point

00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:01.579
 in time does the

00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:02.839
 biblical writers agree

00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:04.079
 with what goes

00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:05.480
 on in my mind,

00:26:05.579 --> 00:26:06.359
 in my imagination,

00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:07.319
 in my heart,

00:26:07.579 --> 00:26:08.079
 where I am

00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:09.079
 constantly being

00:26:09.079 --> 00:26:10.159
 pushed to

00:26:10.159 --> 00:26:11.419
 understand God

00:26:11.419 --> 00:26:12.179
 is tiny,

00:26:12.419 --> 00:26:13.339
 and people are

00:26:13.339 --> 00:26:13.839
 big,

00:26:13.980 --> 00:26:15.299
 God is tiny,

00:26:15.579 --> 00:26:16.439
 and the country

00:26:16.439 --> 00:26:17.019
 is big,

00:26:17.139 --> 00:26:18.139
 God is tiny,

00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:19.500
 and money is big,

00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:20.819
 God is tiny,

00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:22.199
 and sex is big,

00:26:22.519 --> 00:26:23.519
 God is tiny,

00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.480
 and my boss

00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.019
 is big,

00:26:25.099 --> 00:26:26.079
 and the Bible

00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:27.539
 never once

00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:28.439
 accepts that.

00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:30.420
 The Bible

00:26:30.420 --> 00:26:32.080
 always understands

00:26:32.080 --> 00:26:34.100
 God is immense,

00:26:34.900 --> 00:26:38.000
 God is immense,

00:26:39.059 --> 00:26:40.519
 even the devil

00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:42.039
 is not his equal,

00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:44.279
 even the devil,

00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:45.799
 God does not have

00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:46.559
 to send the four

00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:47.380
 living creatures

00:26:47.380 --> 00:26:48.480
 or the 24 elders

00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:49.180
 or some mighty

00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:49.660
 archangel,

00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:50.380
 but an angel

00:26:50.380 --> 00:26:52.320
 to deal with it,

00:26:53.320 --> 00:26:54.279
 and so it is

00:26:54.279 --> 00:26:55.259
 in a whole raft

00:26:55.259 --> 00:26:55.920
 of levels

00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:56.660
 that the Bible

00:26:56.660 --> 00:26:57.440
 understands

00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:58.279
 that the doctrine

00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:58.720
 of hell

00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:59.480
 and how it fits

00:26:59.480 --> 00:27:00.119
 with the person

00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:00.619
 of Jesus

00:27:00.619 --> 00:27:02.660
 solves countless

00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:03.339
 spiritual,

00:27:03.619 --> 00:27:03.859
 moral,

00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:04.700
 and intellectual

00:27:04.700 --> 00:27:05.440
 problems,

00:27:05.559 --> 00:27:06.119
 but we,

00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:07.420
 for whom,

00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:09.160
 are always

00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:11.240
 being drifting

00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:11.899
 into seeing

00:27:11.899 --> 00:27:12.859
 God as tiny,

00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:14.039
 and heaven

00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:14.559
 is just

00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:16.099
 that good place

00:27:16.099 --> 00:27:16.700
 to go where

00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:17.240
 you die,

00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:18.019
 when you die,

00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:20.500
 that heaven

00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.420
 is just living

00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:22.299
 on in people's

00:27:22.299 --> 00:27:22.579
 memories.

00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:23.379
 I'm not trying

00:27:23.379 --> 00:27:23.980
 to put people

00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:24.639
 down by saying

00:27:24.639 --> 00:27:24.759
 that,

00:27:24.799 --> 00:27:25.240
 I'm really not,

00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:25.740
 I apologize

00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:26.460
 if the tone

00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:27.079
 of my voice

00:27:27.079 --> 00:27:28.379
 sounded like

00:27:28.379 --> 00:27:28.939
 I was,

00:27:29.619 --> 00:27:30.039
 but I'm just

00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:30.740
 trying to illustrate

00:27:30.740 --> 00:27:31.619
 how for most

00:27:31.619 --> 00:27:32.579
 of us as Canadians,

00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:34.939
 heaven and God

00:27:34.939 --> 00:27:36.159
 is tiny,

00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:37.279
 abstract,

00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:38.339
 wispy,

00:27:38.919 --> 00:27:41.000
 and not at all

00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:41.460
 what's being

00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:42.399
 portrayed here.

00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:43.079
 It's part of the

00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:43.639
 reason we have

00:27:43.639 --> 00:27:44.439
 problems getting

00:27:44.439 --> 00:27:45.000
 our minds

00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.879
 around the Bible

00:27:45.879 --> 00:27:48.639
 and understanding

00:27:48.639 --> 00:27:49.240
 the depths

00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:49.980
 and the immensity

00:27:49.980 --> 00:27:50.799
 of grace.

00:27:56.200 --> 00:27:56.880
 Let's read

00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:58.180
 verses 11 to 15.

00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.380
 Then I saw

00:28:01.380 --> 00:28:02.019
 a great white

00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:02.460
 throne,

00:28:02.900 --> 00:28:03.680
 and him who

00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:04.099
 was seated

00:28:04.099 --> 00:28:04.599
 on it,

00:28:04.839 --> 00:28:05.200
 that is,

00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:05.960
 he sees God.

00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:06.259
 It doesn't

00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:07.000
 describe God,

00:28:07.079 --> 00:28:07.860
 but he sees God.

00:28:09.140 --> 00:28:10.220
 This is powerful

00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:11.160
 few words.

00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:13.200
 From his presence,

00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:14.660
 earth and sky

00:28:14.660 --> 00:28:16.460
 fled away,

00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:18.000
 and no place

00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:19.160
 was found for them.

00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:19.779
 What did I just

00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:20.440
 tell you about

00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:20.980
 the Bible

00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:22.259
 constantly portrays

00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:23.340
 God as immense

00:28:23.340 --> 00:28:25.279
 and more real?

00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:27.820
 God shows up

00:28:27.820 --> 00:28:28.960
 in our created

00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:29.540
 order,

00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:30.420
 unveiled,

00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.440
 and earth

00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:33.500
 and sky

00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:35.300
 flee away,

00:28:35.540 --> 00:28:36.620
 and no place

00:28:36.620 --> 00:28:38.120
 is found for them.

00:28:39.100 --> 00:28:40.019
 We think of the

00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:41.440
 earth as being

00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:42.279
 so powerful

00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:43.019
 and strong.

00:28:43.820 --> 00:28:44.700
 God shows up,

00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:45.160
 and earth

00:28:45.160 --> 00:28:45.700
 flees.

00:28:45.700 --> 00:28:47.720
 It's also a

00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:48.340
 picture of as

00:28:48.340 --> 00:28:49.240
 God comes and

00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:49.819
 brings with him

00:28:49.819 --> 00:28:50.360
 the new heaven

00:28:50.360 --> 00:28:50.740
 and the new

00:28:50.740 --> 00:28:51.039
 earth,

00:28:51.580 --> 00:28:52.220
 this earth

00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:53.180
 and the heaven

00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:53.779
 that we now

00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:54.340
 live in,

00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:55.039
 it flees.

00:28:55.180 --> 00:28:55.819
 They don't,

00:28:55.819 --> 00:28:56.340
 in a sense,

00:28:58.340 --> 00:28:58.880
 flee.

00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:01.620
 Verse 12,

00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:02.220
 and I saw the

00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:02.539
 dead,

00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:03.779
 great and small,

00:29:05.160 --> 00:29:05.799
 Bill Gates

00:29:05.799 --> 00:29:07.240
 and the lowest

00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:08.200
 untouchable

00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:08.920
 and the poorest

00:29:08.920 --> 00:29:09.799
 country in the

00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:10.140
 planet,

00:29:11.720 --> 00:29:12.519
 standing before

00:29:12.519 --> 00:29:13.000
 the throne,

00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:14.079
 and books

00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:14.680
 were opened.

00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:16.859
 That's bad

00:29:16.859 --> 00:29:17.160
 news,

00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:17.559
 folks.

00:29:19.079 --> 00:29:19.819
 Then another

00:29:19.819 --> 00:29:20.559
 book was opened,

00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:21.220
 which is a book

00:29:21.220 --> 00:29:21.700
 of life,

00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:22.500
 which I'll talk

00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:23.059
 about later.

00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:24.539
 And the dead

00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:25.099
 were judged

00:29:25.099 --> 00:29:25.700
 by what was

00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:26.180
 written in the

00:29:26.180 --> 00:29:26.980
 books according

00:29:26.980 --> 00:29:27.460
 to what they

00:29:27.460 --> 00:29:27.880
 had done.

00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:29.319
 And the sea

00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:29.960
 gave up the

00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:30.500
 dead who were

00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:30.779
 in it,

00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:31.500
 death and

00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:32.339
 Hades gave up

00:29:32.339 --> 00:29:32.720
 the dead

00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:33.079
 who were in

00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:33.259
 them,

00:29:34.140 --> 00:29:34.980
 and they were

00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.480
 judged,

00:29:35.700 --> 00:29:36.539
 each of them

00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:37.019
 according to

00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:37.480
 what they had

00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:37.759
 done.

00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:39.140
 Then death

00:29:39.140 --> 00:29:39.680
 and Hades

00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:40.359
 were thrown

00:29:40.359 --> 00:29:41.440
 into the

00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:42.119
 lake of fire.

00:29:42.119 --> 00:29:42.739
 Notice that,

00:29:42.879 --> 00:29:43.059
 folks?

00:29:43.719 --> 00:29:45.339
 Death is

00:29:45.339 --> 00:29:46.619
 thrown into

00:29:46.619 --> 00:29:47.139
 the lake of

00:29:47.139 --> 00:29:47.439
 fire.

00:29:47.979 --> 00:29:49.479
 Death dies.

00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:51.379
 Death dies

00:29:51.379 --> 00:29:52.579
 in two stages.

00:29:53.219 --> 00:29:53.759
 The true

00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:54.500
 beginning of

00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:54.699
 death,

00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:55.119
 the true

00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:55.659
 death of

00:29:55.659 --> 00:29:56.659
 death happens

00:29:56.659 --> 00:29:57.099
 with the

00:29:57.099 --> 00:29:57.959
 death of

00:29:57.959 --> 00:29:58.359
 the Son

00:29:58.359 --> 00:29:58.919
 of God

00:29:58.919 --> 00:29:59.659
 upon the

00:29:59.659 --> 00:30:00.119
 cross.

00:30:00.699 --> 00:30:01.299
 The day

00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:01.979
 the Son

00:30:01.979 --> 00:30:02.559
 of God,

00:30:02.839 --> 00:30:03.159
 Jesus,

00:30:03.379 --> 00:30:03.899
 our Savior,

00:30:04.099 --> 00:30:04.879
 dies upon

00:30:04.879 --> 00:30:05.519
 the cross,

00:30:05.639 --> 00:30:06.099
 died upon

00:30:06.099 --> 00:30:06.619
 the cross,

00:30:06.739 --> 00:30:07.519
 is the day

00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:08.439
 that death

00:30:08.439 --> 00:30:09.279
 died.

00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:10.939
 Amen!

00:30:12.119 --> 00:30:13.299
 But the

00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:13.839
 final

00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:14.579
 completion

00:30:14.579 --> 00:30:15.219
 of that

00:30:15.219 --> 00:30:15.619
 death

00:30:15.619 --> 00:30:16.459
 will happen

00:30:16.459 --> 00:30:16.759
 in the

00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:17.099
 future.

00:30:17.439 --> 00:30:18.139
 Death is

00:30:18.139 --> 00:30:18.519
 thrown

00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:18.919
 into the

00:30:18.919 --> 00:30:19.299
 lake of

00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:19.539
 fire.

00:30:19.959 --> 00:30:20.399
 This is

00:30:20.399 --> 00:30:20.919
 the second

00:30:20.919 --> 00:30:21.279
 death,

00:30:21.379 --> 00:30:21.659
 the lake

00:30:21.659 --> 00:30:22.139
 of fire.

00:30:22.859 --> 00:30:23.179
 And if

00:30:23.179 --> 00:30:23.719
 anyone's

00:30:23.719 --> 00:30:24.179
 name was

00:30:24.179 --> 00:30:24.939
 not found

00:30:24.939 --> 00:30:25.759
 written in

00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.099
 the book

00:30:26.099 --> 00:30:26.679
 of life,

00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:28.899
 he was

00:30:28.899 --> 00:30:29.479
 thrown

00:30:29.479 --> 00:30:30.459
 into

00:30:30.459 --> 00:30:31.459
 the lake

00:30:31.459 --> 00:30:31.939
 of fire.

00:30:31.940 --> 00:30:44.480
 does this

00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:45.220
 show that

00:30:45.220 --> 00:30:46.140
 God is

00:30:46.140 --> 00:30:47.180
 unloving?

00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.740
 Last

00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:50.059
 week,

00:30:50.380 --> 00:30:51.519
 if you

00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:51.920
 go back

00:30:51.920 --> 00:30:52.240
 and listen

00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:52.500
 to the

00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:52.700
 sermon

00:30:52.700 --> 00:30:53.140
 online,

00:30:53.400 --> 00:30:54.420
 we talked

00:30:54.420 --> 00:30:54.920
 about two

00:30:54.920 --> 00:30:55.779
 powerful images

00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:56.080
 in the

00:30:56.080 --> 00:30:56.360
 book of

00:30:56.360 --> 00:30:56.700
 Revelation

00:30:56.700 --> 00:30:57.580
 chapter 19.

00:30:57.759 --> 00:30:58.000
 It's the

00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:58.400
 image of

00:30:58.400 --> 00:30:58.799
 the bride

00:30:58.799 --> 00:30:59.420
 coming down

00:30:59.420 --> 00:31:00.420
 from heaven.

00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:01.120
 It's a

00:31:01.119 --> 00:31:01.839
 corporate image

00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:02.099
 of the

00:31:02.099 --> 00:31:02.439
 church,

00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:03.339
 and there's

00:31:03.339 --> 00:31:03.879
 also an

00:31:03.879 --> 00:31:04.439
 image of

00:31:04.439 --> 00:31:04.979
 being very

00:31:04.979 --> 00:31:06.299
 invited to

00:31:06.299 --> 00:31:06.859
 a feast.

00:31:07.819 --> 00:31:08.939
 And I

00:31:08.939 --> 00:31:10.859
 talked at

00:31:10.859 --> 00:31:11.419
 some length

00:31:11.419 --> 00:31:11.839
 about how

00:31:11.839 --> 00:31:12.139
 these are

00:31:12.139 --> 00:31:12.939
 very powerful

00:31:12.939 --> 00:31:13.759
 images to

00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:14.659
 help start

00:31:14.659 --> 00:31:15.179
 to order

00:31:15.179 --> 00:31:15.859
 and heal

00:31:15.859 --> 00:31:16.539
 our desires

00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:16.879
 and our

00:31:16.879 --> 00:31:17.379
 longings

00:31:17.379 --> 00:31:17.639
 and our

00:31:17.639 --> 00:31:18.199
 yearnings,

00:31:18.939 --> 00:31:20.779
 to captivate

00:31:20.779 --> 00:31:21.679
 our imagination.

00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:22.599
 I pointed

00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:23.179
 out how

00:31:23.179 --> 00:31:24.399
 Jesus even

00:31:24.399 --> 00:31:24.859
 points to

00:31:24.859 --> 00:31:25.299
 the feast

00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:25.779
 in one of

00:31:25.779 --> 00:31:26.159
 the times

00:31:26.159 --> 00:31:26.439
 when he's

00:31:26.439 --> 00:31:26.799
 describing

00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:27.359
 the Lord's

00:31:27.359 --> 00:31:27.599
 supper,

00:31:27.699 --> 00:31:27.959
 and that one

00:31:27.959 --> 00:31:28.119
 of the

00:31:28.119 --> 00:31:28.419
 things we

00:31:28.419 --> 00:31:28.679
 can do

00:31:28.679 --> 00:31:28.899
 when we

00:31:28.899 --> 00:31:29.199
 come to

00:31:29.199 --> 00:31:29.519
 communion

00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:30.019
 is pray

00:31:30.019 --> 00:31:30.439
 that God

00:31:30.439 --> 00:31:30.859
 will fan

00:31:30.859 --> 00:31:31.279
 into flame

00:31:31.279 --> 00:31:31.699
 within us,

00:31:32.119 --> 00:31:32.659
 a longing

00:31:32.659 --> 00:31:33.219
 and yearning

00:31:33.219 --> 00:31:33.859
 to feast

00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:34.399
 with him

00:31:34.399 --> 00:31:35.179
 in heaven

00:31:35.179 --> 00:31:35.859
 when we

00:31:35.859 --> 00:31:36.699
 come to

00:31:36.699 --> 00:31:37.639
 remember the

00:31:37.639 --> 00:31:38.000
 death and

00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:38.659
 resurrection of

00:31:38.659 --> 00:31:39.579
 Jesus as we

00:31:39.579 --> 00:31:40.339
 celebrate the

00:31:40.339 --> 00:31:40.679
 Lord's

00:31:40.679 --> 00:31:40.899
 supper.

00:31:41.699 --> 00:31:42.519
 And so it's

00:31:42.519 --> 00:31:43.039
 definitely the

00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:43.879
 case that,

00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:44.439
 and it's going

00:31:44.439 --> 00:31:44.839
 to be seen

00:31:44.839 --> 00:31:45.319
 next week,

00:31:45.439 --> 00:31:45.659
 you know,

00:31:45.740 --> 00:31:46.439
 after hell we

00:31:46.439 --> 00:31:46.799
 have two

00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:47.219
 weeks on

00:31:47.219 --> 00:31:47.559
 heaven,

00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:48.839
 chapter 21

00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:49.279
 and chapter

00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:49.799
 22,

00:31:50.199 --> 00:31:50.559
 and the

00:31:50.559 --> 00:31:51.019
 fact of the

00:31:51.019 --> 00:31:51.619
 matter is

00:31:51.619 --> 00:31:52.439
 that the

00:31:52.439 --> 00:31:53.519
 Bible presents

00:31:53.519 --> 00:31:55.799
 in a

00:31:55.799 --> 00:31:56.699
 picture of

00:31:56.699 --> 00:31:57.240
 God's

00:31:57.240 --> 00:31:58.099
 intention for

00:31:58.099 --> 00:31:58.359
 us,

00:31:58.359 --> 00:31:59.279
 which is

00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:00.519
 social and

00:32:00.519 --> 00:32:01.039
 loving,

00:32:01.699 --> 00:32:02.119
 and it's

00:32:02.119 --> 00:32:04.119
 an eternal

00:32:04.119 --> 00:32:05.699
 relationship with

00:32:05.699 --> 00:32:06.480
 God of

00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:07.919
 intimacy and

00:32:07.919 --> 00:32:09.740
 companionship and

00:32:09.740 --> 00:32:10.939
 trust with no

00:32:10.939 --> 00:32:11.980
 exit strategies,

00:32:12.399 --> 00:32:13.319
 which is all

00:32:13.319 --> 00:32:14.000
 about love,

00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:14.799
 which is deep

00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:15.579
 love, and

00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:16.139
 which is for

00:32:16.139 --> 00:32:17.059
 all eternity,

00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:18.240
 and it's in

00:32:18.240 --> 00:32:19.279
 God's presence,

00:32:19.659 --> 00:32:20.379
 and it's us

00:32:20.379 --> 00:32:21.099
 standing with

00:32:21.099 --> 00:32:21.579
 God,

00:32:21.939 --> 00:32:22.719
 unashamed,

00:32:23.099 --> 00:32:23.740
 being able to

00:32:23.740 --> 00:32:24.359
 stand in

00:32:24.359 --> 00:32:25.219
 unapproachable

00:32:25.219 --> 00:32:25.579
 light,

00:32:25.579 --> 00:32:26.319
 and have

00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:26.759
 ourselves

00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:27.359
 completely

00:32:27.359 --> 00:32:28.019
 open and

00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:28.679
 transparent,

00:32:28.899 --> 00:32:29.399
 and every

00:32:29.399 --> 00:32:30.079
 detail of

00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:30.599
 our lives

00:32:30.599 --> 00:32:31.439
 transparent to

00:32:31.439 --> 00:32:31.960
 him and to

00:32:31.960 --> 00:32:32.539
 all others,

00:32:32.839 --> 00:32:33.500
 and seen

00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:33.899
 through the

00:32:33.899 --> 00:32:34.439
 eyes of

00:32:34.439 --> 00:32:34.779
 love,

00:32:34.839 --> 00:32:35.659
 and experiences

00:32:35.659 --> 00:32:36.159
 love,

00:32:36.259 --> 00:32:36.939
 and experiences

00:32:36.939 --> 00:32:37.419
 peace,

00:32:37.500 --> 00:32:38.199
 and experiences

00:32:38.199 --> 00:32:38.679
 rest,

00:32:38.899 --> 00:32:39.299
 and the

00:32:39.299 --> 00:32:39.919
 Bible paints

00:32:39.919 --> 00:32:40.259
 the most

00:32:40.259 --> 00:32:40.779
 exalted

00:32:40.779 --> 00:32:42.379
 picture of

00:32:42.379 --> 00:32:43.039
 our destiny,

00:32:43.559 --> 00:32:44.439
 of unending

00:32:44.439 --> 00:32:45.619
 existence redeemed

00:32:45.619 --> 00:32:46.720
 by Jesus in

00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:47.500
 the presence of

00:32:47.500 --> 00:32:48.319
 God, and

00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:49.619
 experiencing God

00:32:49.619 --> 00:32:50.460
 as love,

00:32:51.539 --> 00:32:51.919
 and that's

00:32:51.919 --> 00:32:52.179
 what the

00:32:52.179 --> 00:32:52.619
 picture that

00:32:52.619 --> 00:32:53.039
 the Bible

00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:53.619
 will present

00:32:53.619 --> 00:32:55.519
 to us.

00:32:55.579 --> 00:32:56.279
 In fact,

00:32:56.359 --> 00:32:56.779
 the Bible

00:32:56.779 --> 00:32:57.839
 presents love

00:32:57.839 --> 00:32:58.879
 and heaven

00:32:58.879 --> 00:32:59.659
 not as

00:32:59.659 --> 00:33:00.240
 abstract,

00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:01.599
 but as

00:33:01.599 --> 00:33:01.839
 very,

00:33:01.939 --> 00:33:02.159
 very,

00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:02.519
 very,

00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:03.220
 very,

00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:03.879
 very,

00:33:03.879 --> 00:33:07.619
 very powerful.

00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:12.679
 Woody Allen

00:33:12.679 --> 00:33:14.179
 is famous for

00:33:14.179 --> 00:33:14.960
 complaining about

00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:16.079
 the contemporary

00:33:16.079 --> 00:33:17.539
 understanding that

00:33:17.539 --> 00:33:18.319
 when we die,

00:33:18.859 --> 00:33:19.639
 we live on in

00:33:19.639 --> 00:33:20.419
 people's memories,

00:33:20.859 --> 00:33:22.179
 and Woody Allen

00:33:22.179 --> 00:33:23.220
 famously said that

00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:23.859
 when he dies,

00:33:23.939 --> 00:33:24.519
 he doesn't want to

00:33:24.519 --> 00:33:24.960
 live on in

00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:25.740
 people's memories,

00:33:26.340 --> 00:33:26.960
 he wants to

00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:27.460
 live on in

00:33:27.460 --> 00:33:28.279
 his condo,

00:33:29.840 --> 00:33:31.620
 that living on

00:33:31.620 --> 00:33:32.620
 just in people's

00:33:32.620 --> 00:33:33.259
 memories isn't

00:33:33.259 --> 00:33:33.779
 very good.

00:33:34.059 --> 00:33:34.759
 Many people will

00:33:34.759 --> 00:33:35.220
 say that when

00:33:35.220 --> 00:33:35.680
 they die,

00:33:35.840 --> 00:33:36.440
 they just go to

00:33:36.440 --> 00:33:37.279
 a better place,

00:33:37.700 --> 00:33:38.840
 but the Bible

00:33:38.840 --> 00:33:39.539
 says that when

00:33:39.539 --> 00:33:39.880
 you die,

00:33:39.960 --> 00:33:40.220
 you're going to

00:33:40.220 --> 00:33:40.920
 be with God.

00:33:42.720 --> 00:33:43.559
 Imagine for a

00:33:43.559 --> 00:33:44.200
 second there's a

00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:44.740
 person that you

00:33:44.740 --> 00:33:45.340
 don't particularly

00:33:45.340 --> 00:33:46.160
 care for.

00:33:47.180 --> 00:33:47.920
 It's a romantic

00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:48.180
 thing.

00:33:48.259 --> 00:33:48.920
 Imagine that you're

00:33:48.920 --> 00:33:50.140
 single, and

00:33:50.140 --> 00:33:50.759
 there's a person

00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:51.380
 you don't particularly

00:33:51.380 --> 00:33:52.220
 care for, and you

00:33:52.220 --> 00:33:52.700
 know they want to

00:33:52.700 --> 00:33:53.640
 spend time with you,

00:33:53.640 --> 00:33:54.960
 and you have a

00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:56.660
 friend who wants

00:33:56.660 --> 00:33:57.400
 to set you up

00:33:57.400 --> 00:33:58.180
 with that person,

00:33:58.660 --> 00:33:59.740
 and one day you

00:33:59.740 --> 00:34:01.300
 agree to go on a

00:34:01.300 --> 00:34:02.220
 long car drive,

00:34:02.300 --> 00:34:02.560
 you're going to

00:34:02.560 --> 00:34:03.780
 drive to Windsor,

00:34:03.860 --> 00:34:04.740
 that's a long car

00:34:04.740 --> 00:34:05.280
 drive, you're

00:34:05.280 --> 00:34:05.700
 leaving from

00:34:05.700 --> 00:34:06.100
 Ottawa, you're

00:34:06.100 --> 00:34:06.600
 going to go to a

00:34:06.600 --> 00:34:07.500
 long car drive

00:34:07.500 --> 00:34:08.900
 with Windsor, and

00:34:08.900 --> 00:34:10.480
 you show up, and

00:34:10.480 --> 00:34:11.260
 your friend picks

00:34:11.260 --> 00:34:13.980
 you up, and lo and

00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:15.039
 behold in the car is

00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:15.840
 this person that you

00:34:15.840 --> 00:34:16.700
 don't like, but your

00:34:16.700 --> 00:34:17.740
 friend's been trying

00:34:17.740 --> 00:34:18.700
 to set you up with,

00:34:19.640 --> 00:34:21.000
 and you're pretty mad,

00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:21.659
 but you get in the

00:34:21.659 --> 00:34:23.480
 car, and then the

00:34:23.480 --> 00:34:24.380
 very, very next thing

00:34:24.380 --> 00:34:25.039
 you know is your

00:34:25.039 --> 00:34:26.380
 friend gets out of

00:34:26.380 --> 00:34:27.579
 the car, and the

00:34:27.579 --> 00:34:28.639
 person drives, that

00:34:28.639 --> 00:34:29.159
 person you've been

00:34:29.159 --> 00:34:30.019
 trying to avoid, they

00:34:30.019 --> 00:34:31.000
 drive the car, and

00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:31.960
 you're now stuck in

00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:33.159
 the car all the way to

00:34:33.159 --> 00:34:33.980
 Windsor with somebody

00:34:33.980 --> 00:34:34.679
 that you've been trying

00:34:34.679 --> 00:34:35.480
 to avoid, you don't

00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:38.480
 really care for, and

00:34:38.480 --> 00:34:39.059
 now you have to drive

00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:39.860
 all the way to Windsor

00:34:39.860 --> 00:34:41.400
 with them, stuck in a

00:34:41.400 --> 00:34:42.159
 car with them.

00:34:44.739 --> 00:34:47.199
 When you get back, or

00:34:47.199 --> 00:34:47.780
 when you have a

00:34:47.780 --> 00:34:49.000
 freak moment, and you

00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:50.940
 call up your friend, and

00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:51.900
 what will you say to

00:34:51.900 --> 00:34:52.039
 them?

00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:55.280
 You will say, how dare

00:34:55.280 --> 00:34:58.039
 you make me spend 10

00:34:58.039 --> 00:34:59.099
 hours with that

00:34:59.099 --> 00:34:59.579
 person?

00:35:00.340 --> 00:35:03.860
 How dare you make me

00:35:03.860 --> 00:35:05.219
 spend 10 hours with

00:35:05.219 --> 00:35:05.619
 that person?

00:35:05.840 --> 00:35:06.780
 You know I don't want

00:35:06.780 --> 00:35:07.320
 to be with that

00:35:07.320 --> 00:35:08.320
 person, you know I

00:35:08.320 --> 00:35:09.280
 don't like them, you

00:35:09.280 --> 00:35:09.940
 know I don't want to

00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:10.599
 be in their presence,

00:35:10.739 --> 00:35:11.980
 and you made me spend

00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:13.000
 10 hours with them.

00:35:13.239 --> 00:35:15.000
 How dare you?

00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:18.940
 So, what's it going

00:35:18.940 --> 00:35:20.780
 to be like if we die

00:35:20.780 --> 00:35:23.059
 and we have to spend

00:35:23.059 --> 00:35:24.019
 eternity with God?

00:35:25.300 --> 00:35:26.300
 And we don't want to.

00:35:27.739 --> 00:35:28.420
 Here's what I'm going

00:35:28.420 --> 00:35:29.940
 to suggest, and we're

00:35:29.940 --> 00:35:30.699
 going to start to unpack

00:35:30.699 --> 00:35:31.420
 it a little bit more,

00:35:32.900 --> 00:35:35.880
 that how dare you, if

00:35:35.880 --> 00:35:37.039
 you could put it up, how

00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:39.099
 dare you is the anthem

00:35:39.099 --> 00:35:39.599
 of hell.

00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:44.239
 How dare you is the

00:35:44.239 --> 00:35:44.900
 anthem of hell.

00:35:46.579 --> 00:35:48.279
 The doctrine of hell is

00:35:48.279 --> 00:35:50.159
 completely and utterly

00:35:50.159 --> 00:35:50.759
 unloving.

00:35:50.940 --> 00:35:51.460
 Well, let me just

00:35:51.460 --> 00:35:52.179
 suggest this.

00:35:52.519 --> 00:35:53.539
 Imagine for a moment

00:35:53.539 --> 00:35:55.400
 that you're a single

00:35:55.400 --> 00:35:59.219
 woman, and you meet

00:35:59.219 --> 00:36:01.119
 this fellow, and you

00:36:01.119 --> 00:36:01.940
 seem to just meet by

00:36:01.940 --> 00:36:02.839
 chance, you meet by

00:36:02.839 --> 00:36:04.460
 chance, you strike up a

00:36:04.460 --> 00:36:05.339
 conversation, everything

00:36:05.339 --> 00:36:06.480
 is perfect about this

00:36:06.480 --> 00:36:09.579
 fellow, and ask you

00:36:09.579 --> 00:36:10.920
 after just a couple

00:36:10.920 --> 00:36:11.539
 of dates, you're

00:36:11.539 --> 00:36:12.079
 telling all your

00:36:12.079 --> 00:36:13.079
 girlfriends about how

00:36:13.079 --> 00:36:13.619
 you've met this

00:36:13.619 --> 00:36:14.759
 spectacular guy.

00:36:15.340 --> 00:36:16.340
 He's like, you already

00:36:16.340 --> 00:36:17.559
 sense this unbelievably

00:36:17.559 --> 00:36:19.599
 deep connection, and

00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:20.460
 then it just, the more

00:36:20.460 --> 00:36:21.340
 you get to know this

00:36:21.340 --> 00:36:22.179
 person, the more you

00:36:22.179 --> 00:36:23.019
 seem to love him and

00:36:23.019 --> 00:36:24.380
 like him, and then you

00:36:24.380 --> 00:36:25.219
 finally decide that

00:36:25.219 --> 00:36:25.779
 you're going to get

00:36:25.779 --> 00:36:28.079
 married, and then just

00:36:28.980 --> 00:36:30.079
 the day before the

00:36:30.079 --> 00:36:31.139
 wedding rehearsal, so

00:36:31.139 --> 00:36:32.159
 two days before the

00:36:32.159 --> 00:36:33.579
 wedding, you go in to

00:36:33.579 --> 00:36:35.819
 visit your beloved in

00:36:35.819 --> 00:36:37.239
 his office, and the

00:36:37.239 --> 00:36:38.139
 secretary who knows

00:36:38.139 --> 00:36:38.759
 you very well says,

00:36:38.799 --> 00:36:39.360
 oh yeah, he's not

00:36:39.360 --> 00:36:39.960
 here, he's gone out

00:36:39.960 --> 00:36:40.780
 for some coffee, just

00:36:40.780 --> 00:36:42.360
 go and sit down, he'll

00:36:42.360 --> 00:36:43.620
 be in in a second, and

00:36:43.620 --> 00:36:44.420
 you walk in and you

00:36:44.420 --> 00:36:45.099
 notice that the

00:36:45.099 --> 00:36:46.000
 computer's on, and you

00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:46.760
 notice that there's an

00:36:46.760 --> 00:36:47.400
 email, and you don't

00:36:47.400 --> 00:36:48.059
 think you should read

00:36:48.059 --> 00:36:48.720
 this email, but you

00:36:48.720 --> 00:36:49.340
 start to read this

00:36:49.340 --> 00:36:50.680
 email, and all of a

00:36:50.680 --> 00:36:51.860
 sudden, you start to

00:36:51.860 --> 00:36:54.280
 feel horrified, and

00:36:54.280 --> 00:36:55.340
 then you start to press

00:36:55.340 --> 00:36:56.220
 down the replies,

00:36:56.320 --> 00:36:57.039
 because it's a long

00:36:57.039 --> 00:36:58.099
 list of replies, and

00:36:58.099 --> 00:36:59.120
 then you discover that

00:36:59.120 --> 00:37:01.599
 this fellow had, a

00:37:01.599 --> 00:37:02.599
 month before he met

00:37:02.599 --> 00:37:04.019
 you, met a very, very

00:37:04.019 --> 00:37:05.079
 rich man who was an

00:37:05.079 --> 00:37:06.920
 experiment, said, I'd

00:37:06.920 --> 00:37:07.740
 like you to see if you

00:37:07.739 --> 00:37:09.459
 could woo this young

00:37:09.459 --> 00:37:10.939
 woman, and get her to

00:37:10.939 --> 00:37:11.599
 marry you, and if you

00:37:11.599 --> 00:37:12.199
 can do it, I'll give

00:37:12.199 --> 00:37:13.500
 you 50 million dollars.

00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:17.519
 Would you still marry

00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:17.839
 the man?

00:37:20.019 --> 00:37:21.339
 No revenge fantasy

00:37:21.339 --> 00:37:22.559
 Hollywood thing, you

00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:23.219
 marry him when you know

00:37:23.219 --> 00:37:24.159
 the 50 million's in the

00:37:24.159 --> 00:37:25.079
 bank, you divorce him, and

00:37:25.079 --> 00:37:26.199
 get 25 million under

00:37:26.199 --> 00:37:27.619
 Canada's no fault, divorce

00:37:27.619 --> 00:37:28.019
 laws.

00:37:28.419 --> 00:37:29.219
 Okay, none of that.

00:37:29.219 --> 00:37:32.919
 But you might do that

00:37:32.919 --> 00:37:34.319
 out of a revenge thing,

00:37:34.339 --> 00:37:34.699
 wouldn't you?

00:37:35.079 --> 00:37:36.219
 You wouldn't marry him.

00:37:37.719 --> 00:37:38.919
 You wouldn't marry him.

00:37:43.199 --> 00:37:45.279
 How is it that if heaven

00:37:45.279 --> 00:37:48.739
 is like being married to

00:37:48.739 --> 00:37:53.559
 God, and you're forced to

00:37:53.559 --> 00:37:54.919
 spend eternity married with

00:37:54.919 --> 00:37:57.379
 God, wouldn't you want to

00:37:57.380 --> 00:37:59.260
 say to God, how dare you?

00:38:00.380 --> 00:38:02.820
 How dare you want to have

00:38:02.820 --> 00:38:04.079
 that type of intimacy with

00:38:04.079 --> 00:38:04.280
 me?

00:38:05.240 --> 00:38:06.220
 How dare you?

00:38:09.400 --> 00:38:11.420
 Want to force me to go to

00:38:11.420 --> 00:38:12.960
 spend eternity in love with

00:38:12.960 --> 00:38:13.099
 you?

00:38:13.180 --> 00:38:14.240
 How dare you do that?

00:38:16.720 --> 00:38:17.880
 People think that the

00:38:17.880 --> 00:38:20.559
 doctrine of hell, that

00:38:20.559 --> 00:38:21.400
 everybody should go to

00:38:21.400 --> 00:38:22.340
 heaven, that nobody should

00:38:22.340 --> 00:38:24.059
 go to hell, that that's a

00:38:24.059 --> 00:38:25.700
 sort of a more, it's

00:38:25.699 --> 00:38:26.539
 actually more in keeping

00:38:26.539 --> 00:38:27.939
 with freedom, but is it in

00:38:27.939 --> 00:38:28.679
 keeping with freedom?

00:38:29.460 --> 00:38:30.799
 You go out after the

00:38:30.799 --> 00:38:31.699
 service, and you go on

00:38:31.699 --> 00:38:32.659
 Rideau Street to have a

00:38:32.659 --> 00:38:33.480
 coffee, and you meet a

00:38:33.480 --> 00:38:34.559
 street person, and this

00:38:34.559 --> 00:38:35.539
 street person's really,

00:38:35.659 --> 00:38:36.279
 really messed up.

00:38:36.359 --> 00:38:37.219
 They're very, very deeply

00:38:37.219 --> 00:38:38.939
 addicted to drugs and

00:38:38.939 --> 00:38:39.480
 alcohol.

00:38:40.559 --> 00:38:42.699
 And then you realize that

00:38:42.699 --> 00:38:43.659
 there's a politician, you

00:38:43.659 --> 00:38:44.699
 see many street people like

00:38:44.699 --> 00:38:45.659
 this, and then a politician

00:38:45.659 --> 00:38:47.259
 arises who says, I can very

00:38:47.259 --> 00:38:48.539
 simply solve the problem of

00:38:48.539 --> 00:38:49.339
 all drug addiction.

00:38:50.899 --> 00:38:52.460
 What I'm going to do is I'm

00:38:52.460 --> 00:38:54.639
 going to have the police pick

00:38:54.639 --> 00:38:56.079
 up every person who has an

00:38:56.079 --> 00:38:57.480
 alcohol problem and every

00:38:57.480 --> 00:38:58.039
 drug addict.

00:38:59.199 --> 00:39:00.079
 And we're going to be very,

00:39:00.219 --> 00:39:01.019
 very humane, and we're going

00:39:01.019 --> 00:39:01.920
 to be very, very loving.

00:39:02.019 --> 00:39:03.059
 We're going to put them in a

00:39:03.059 --> 00:39:04.920
 place, and in that place

00:39:04.920 --> 00:39:06.099
 there will be no drugs and

00:39:06.099 --> 00:39:07.339
 no alcohol, and we'll make

00:39:07.339 --> 00:39:08.739
 sure that if any guard ever

00:39:08.739 --> 00:39:09.940
 tries to smuggle something

00:39:09.940 --> 00:39:11.039
 in, they will be completely

00:39:11.039 --> 00:39:12.139
 and severely punished.

00:39:12.819 --> 00:39:14.480
 And because of the fact that

00:39:14.480 --> 00:39:15.920
 drug addicts, even though

00:39:15.920 --> 00:39:17.119
 many drug addicts have been

00:39:17.119 --> 00:39:18.259
 in and out of the drunk tank

00:39:18.259 --> 00:39:19.179
 and in and out of rehab

00:39:19.179 --> 00:39:20.500
 things many times, but as soon

00:39:20.500 --> 00:39:22.019
 as they leave and they get

00:39:22.019 --> 00:39:23.179
 clean, they go back in the

00:39:23.179 --> 00:39:24.339
 street, they go right back to

00:39:24.340 --> 00:39:25.460
 using drugs and alcohol.

00:39:25.600 --> 00:39:26.600
 What we're going to do is

00:39:26.600 --> 00:39:28.579
 we just know that that's the

00:39:28.579 --> 00:39:29.300
 way drug addicts and

00:39:29.300 --> 00:39:30.360
 alcoholics are, so we're

00:39:30.360 --> 00:39:31.160
 going to put them in this

00:39:31.160 --> 00:39:31.820
 place where there's no

00:39:31.820 --> 00:39:32.600
 alcohol and there's no

00:39:32.600 --> 00:39:33.360
 drugs, and they're going to

00:39:33.360 --> 00:39:34.380
 live there till they die.

00:39:35.780 --> 00:39:36.559
 They're going to live there

00:39:36.559 --> 00:39:37.680
 till they die, and we'll give

00:39:37.680 --> 00:39:38.860
 them all their food, all their

00:39:38.860 --> 00:39:40.180
 meals, the latest movies, all

00:39:40.180 --> 00:39:41.160
 the sporting equipment, but

00:39:41.160 --> 00:39:42.300
 they'll just never be able to

00:39:42.300 --> 00:39:44.120
 leave, and we've solved the

00:39:44.120 --> 00:39:44.720
 drug problem.

00:39:47.340 --> 00:39:49.460
 And you would say, how dare you

00:39:49.460 --> 00:39:50.579
 take away that person's

00:39:50.579 --> 00:39:50.880
 freedom?

00:39:50.880 --> 00:39:53.519
 How dare you do that?

00:39:55.119 --> 00:39:56.760
 So how is it that God could

00:39:56.760 --> 00:39:59.220
 force people to go to spend an

00:39:59.220 --> 00:40:00.860
 eternity with him when they

00:40:00.860 --> 00:40:01.480
 don't want to?

00:40:03.039 --> 00:40:04.360
 Wouldn't they want to say to

00:40:04.360 --> 00:40:06.300
 God, how dare you force me to go

00:40:06.300 --> 00:40:07.980
 somewhere in a way that I don't

00:40:07.980 --> 00:40:08.180
 want to?

00:40:08.220 --> 00:40:09.740
 How dare you, God, do that?

00:40:11.119 --> 00:40:12.420
 How could God force them?

00:40:13.640 --> 00:40:15.099
 C.S. Lewis said that the teaching

00:40:15.099 --> 00:40:17.660
 on hell in the Bible is the most

00:40:17.659 --> 00:40:20.519
 profound teaching in the world on

00:40:20.519 --> 00:40:23.739
 human freedom and on the dignity

00:40:23.739 --> 00:40:24.759
 of human beings?

00:40:27.279 --> 00:40:28.920
 Some of us might say that the

00:40:28.920 --> 00:40:30.759
 teaching of hell is not very

00:40:30.759 --> 00:40:32.399
 inclusive, that it's very, very

00:40:32.399 --> 00:40:34.359
 exclusive, and we have in the back

00:40:34.359 --> 00:40:36.579
 of our mind this idea that,

00:40:36.579 --> 00:40:43.739
 you know, we sort of have in our

00:40:43.739 --> 00:40:45.119
 idea that, you know, you sort of,

00:40:45.699 --> 00:40:47.619
 we sort of know that maybe God has

00:40:47.619 --> 00:40:49.500
 to put some sort of people who are

00:40:49.500 --> 00:40:51.699
 bad into, you know, to have some type

00:40:51.699 --> 00:40:54.019
 of a punishment, but, you know,

00:40:54.079 --> 00:40:55.659
 basically we have this sort of idea at

00:40:55.659 --> 00:40:57.219
 the same time as hell is sort of open

00:40:57.219 --> 00:40:59.599
 and ended is that basically common

00:40:59.599 --> 00:41:01.159
 human religion is you go and you do

00:41:01.159 --> 00:41:02.960
 some things, you do more nice things,

00:41:03.039 --> 00:41:06.019
 you do bad things, and then God sort of

00:41:06.019 --> 00:41:07.820
 has this obligation to put you into

00:41:07.820 --> 00:41:12.000
 heaven, and that sounds all very,

00:41:12.079 --> 00:41:14.259
 very well and good, but if you think

00:41:14.259 --> 00:41:15.639
 about it for a second, it's actually

00:41:15.639 --> 00:41:17.000
 not very inclusive at all.

00:41:17.940 --> 00:41:20.639
 What about people who just really

00:41:20.639 --> 00:41:22.199
 aren't going to be able to manage

00:41:22.199 --> 00:41:22.519
 that?

00:41:23.800 --> 00:41:25.539
 I'm not making a political comment on

00:41:25.539 --> 00:41:26.699
 this right now, but I'm just using

00:41:26.699 --> 00:41:28.099
 something which is very common in the

00:41:28.099 --> 00:41:28.400
 press.

00:41:29.460 --> 00:41:31.639
 How many people think Rob Ford would

00:41:31.639 --> 00:41:32.639
 be able to manage that?

00:41:32.639 --> 00:41:36.619
 I know that Rob Ford has his

00:41:36.619 --> 00:41:41.119
 defenders, but boy, there's not many

00:41:41.119 --> 00:41:42.859
 people who think that Rob Ford would

00:41:42.859 --> 00:41:44.259
 be able to manage that, do you?

00:41:49.259 --> 00:41:53.219
 In fact, the idea that sort of we just

00:41:53.219 --> 00:41:55.019
 do more good things than we do bad

00:41:55.019 --> 00:41:57.699
 things, and we sort of define what

00:41:57.699 --> 00:41:59.259
 those are, that actually ends up

00:41:59.260 --> 00:42:01.420
 usually leaving out any type of hope

00:42:01.420 --> 00:42:04.700
 for people who just really seem to be

00:42:04.700 --> 00:42:05.860
 deeply messed up.

00:42:07.960 --> 00:42:10.780
 And the idea that somehow God would

00:42:10.780 --> 00:42:13.340
 just sort of force, can you just

00:42:13.340 --> 00:42:16.420
 imagine that the writers of the

00:42:16.420 --> 00:42:20.240
 Toronto Star or the CBC, that they

00:42:20.240 --> 00:42:21.660
 were going to have to spend eternity

00:42:21.660 --> 00:42:22.700
 with Rob Ford?

00:42:22.699 --> 00:42:28.279
 And they would say to God, how dare you

00:42:28.279 --> 00:42:30.379
 make me do that?

00:42:32.139 --> 00:42:36.019
 How dare you make me do that?

00:42:39.219 --> 00:42:43.500
 And just sort of in, in fact, even this

00:42:43.500 --> 00:42:45.779
 idea that God is unjust sending people to

00:42:45.779 --> 00:42:48.039
 hell, we can start to get a sense that it

00:42:48.039 --> 00:42:50.519
 might very well be that in this particular

00:42:50.519 --> 00:42:52.980
 text in Revelation 20, it emphasizes that

00:42:52.980 --> 00:42:56.199
 God throws, but in fact, the other

00:42:56.199 --> 00:42:58.019
 teaching in the rest of Scripture that

00:42:58.019 --> 00:43:00.820
 somehow or another, hell is something

00:43:00.820 --> 00:43:04.239
 that we freely choose, we start to see

00:43:04.239 --> 00:43:06.019
 that that actually starts to make some

00:43:06.019 --> 00:43:06.559
 sense.

00:43:08.860 --> 00:43:11.079
 That that actually starts to make some

00:43:11.079 --> 00:43:15.019
 sense, because how dare you is the

00:43:15.019 --> 00:43:16.099
 anthem that we sing.

00:43:16.099 --> 00:43:20.739
 See, here's what the Bible teaches.

00:43:21.279 --> 00:43:24.299
 Since no one deserves heaven, unless God

00:43:24.299 --> 00:43:27.279
 intervenes, hell is my destination.

00:43:29.159 --> 00:43:32.179
 Since no one deserves heaven, unless God

00:43:32.179 --> 00:43:36.099
 intervenes, hell is my destination.

00:43:37.179 --> 00:43:39.599
 And I want to stand before you, and I want

00:43:39.599 --> 00:43:41.460
 to tell you, and I say this with no sense

00:43:41.460 --> 00:43:44.639
 of pride, no sense of vanity, no sense of

00:43:44.639 --> 00:43:45.019
 arrogance.

00:43:47.559 --> 00:43:51.619
 But Spurgeon once famously said that the

00:43:51.619 --> 00:43:53.559
 Christian faith is just one beggar telling

00:43:53.559 --> 00:43:55.059
 another beggar where to find bread.

00:43:56.280 --> 00:43:58.539
 And I can tell you that apart from what

00:43:58.539 --> 00:44:00.599
 Jesus has done for me on the cross, that my

00:44:00.599 --> 00:44:01.720
 destination is hell.

00:44:03.199 --> 00:44:05.659
 Because I've given my life to Jesus, God, not

00:44:05.659 --> 00:44:07.340
 weighing my merits, but pardoning my

00:44:07.340 --> 00:44:08.860
 offenses, my destination.

00:44:08.860 --> 00:44:11.720
 If I was to die today, I would not go to

00:44:11.720 --> 00:44:11.960
 hell.

00:44:12.740 --> 00:44:13.720
 I would go to heaven.

00:44:14.519 --> 00:44:16.620
 And I say that to you not because I think

00:44:16.620 --> 00:44:18.480
 that I am better than anybody here in the

00:44:18.480 --> 00:44:21.940
 room, not because I think there's anything

00:44:21.940 --> 00:44:24.900
 in me particularly worthy of going to

00:44:24.900 --> 00:44:25.180
 heaven.

00:44:26.880 --> 00:44:29.160
 But I understand that no one deserves

00:44:29.160 --> 00:44:31.800
 heaven, and unless God intervenes, hell is

00:44:31.800 --> 00:44:32.539
 my destination.

00:44:32.740 --> 00:44:36.780
 I understand that the cry, how dare you, is

00:44:36.780 --> 00:44:39.800
 a cry that deeply resonates within my soul and

00:44:39.800 --> 00:44:40.740
 within my spirit.

00:44:40.880 --> 00:44:44.800
 And unless God intervenes, hell is not only

00:44:44.800 --> 00:44:47.680
 where God would put me, but hell is what I

00:44:47.680 --> 00:44:48.840
 would freely choose.

00:44:50.720 --> 00:44:53.580
 See, here's what the Bible teaches, and we'll

00:44:53.580 --> 00:44:55.100
 just say one more thing after this and then

00:44:55.100 --> 00:44:55.740
 we'll wrap up.

00:44:56.820 --> 00:44:59.340
 That God takes no delight in the death of a

00:44:59.340 --> 00:45:02.040
 sinner, but rather that I will turn from my

00:45:02.040 --> 00:45:02.960
 wickedness and live.

00:45:02.960 --> 00:45:05.559
 It's almost a direct quote from the book of

00:45:05.559 --> 00:45:07.280
 Ezekiel where it's said three times.

00:45:08.000 --> 00:45:09.820
 Those of you familiar with Anglican tradition

00:45:09.820 --> 00:45:11.880
 in morning prayer will know that that's a

00:45:11.880 --> 00:45:13.760
 regular part of morning and evening prayer.

00:45:14.619 --> 00:45:16.800
 God takes no delight in the death of a sinner, but

00:45:16.800 --> 00:45:19.179
 rather that I will turn from my wickedness and

00:45:19.179 --> 00:45:19.480
 live.

00:45:20.519 --> 00:45:22.440
 And what happens is if you go back and look

00:45:22.440 --> 00:45:24.960
 more clearly at Revelation chapter 20, you'll

00:45:24.960 --> 00:45:26.099
 see that there's two books.

00:45:26.880 --> 00:45:29.240
 And one of the two books that we're judged by is

00:45:29.239 --> 00:45:30.959
 the Lamb's Book of Life.

00:45:31.959 --> 00:45:34.959
 And one of the things to describe conversion is

00:45:34.959 --> 00:45:38.039
 that we're taken out of the books and put into

00:45:38.039 --> 00:45:39.399
 the Lamb's Book of Life.

00:45:40.199 --> 00:45:41.839
 And how does that transfer happen?

00:45:42.000 --> 00:45:45.939
 It happens because on the cross, Jesus took my

00:45:45.939 --> 00:45:50.000
 punishment, destruction, and banishment, and

00:45:50.000 --> 00:45:52.079
 offers me his standing with God.

00:45:52.599 --> 00:45:52.959
 Hallelujah.

00:45:52.960 --> 00:45:57.740
 Remember I described that hell is the place of

00:45:57.740 --> 00:46:00.800
 punishment, destruction, and banishment.

00:46:02.039 --> 00:46:05.760
 And the Bible teaches that on the cross, Jesus took

00:46:05.760 --> 00:46:10.179
 my punishment, my destruction, and my banishment.

00:46:11.380 --> 00:46:15.139
 He took mine, and he offers me his standing with God.

00:46:16.079 --> 00:46:18.019
 That's what Jesus does on the cross.

00:46:18.019 --> 00:46:23.159
 He experiences the functional equivalent of hell for me.

00:46:26.300 --> 00:46:29.800
 The punishment that brought me peace was upon him.

00:46:30.280 --> 00:46:32.579
 By his wounds, I am healed.

00:46:33.880 --> 00:46:38.000
 All we like sheep have gone astray, and the Lord has laid on

00:46:38.000 --> 00:46:39.659
 him the iniquity of us all.

00:46:40.460 --> 00:46:43.739
 Before Jesus died on the cross, he's in the Garden of

00:46:43.739 --> 00:46:46.860
 Gethsemane, and he knows that when he dies upon the cross,

00:46:46.860 --> 00:46:49.740
 he's not dying for anything that he has done wrong himself.

00:46:50.820 --> 00:46:55.980
 But that literally, literally, all of the things that I've

00:46:55.980 --> 00:47:00.920
 done wrong that demand punishment, he will have those fall

00:47:00.920 --> 00:47:03.220
 upon him, and he will take my punishment.

00:47:04.240 --> 00:47:06.559
 And the imagery is of the cup of wrath of God.

00:47:07.340 --> 00:47:12.120
 And Jesus will drink my cup for me when he dies upon the cross.

00:47:12.119 --> 00:47:15.139
 And his destruction is clear.

00:47:16.079 --> 00:47:19.759
 He dies a death, a horrible death upon the cross.

00:47:20.319 --> 00:47:23.259
 And his banishment from the Father is also clear.

00:47:24.199 --> 00:47:26.719
 I've been married to Louise for 32 years.

00:47:28.400 --> 00:47:31.299
 You know, I can have somebody that I meet at Starbucks.

00:47:32.259 --> 00:47:35.159
 Sometimes people ask me what I do at Starbucks, and I tell them I'm

00:47:35.159 --> 00:47:37.639
 a pastor of a church, and you can see their face fall.

00:47:37.639 --> 00:47:44.359
 And you can just tell that they're rejecting me because I say that.

00:47:44.440 --> 00:47:45.900
 I can tell they've just rejected me.

00:47:45.960 --> 00:47:50.420
 And I just met the person just a few moments ago, and I feel some pain with it.

00:47:51.699 --> 00:47:52.319
 One of the...

00:47:52.319 --> 00:48:00.059
 But if Louise, after 32 years of marriage, was to leave me, to tell me I had to leave

00:48:00.059 --> 00:48:06.039
 her and that I could never see her again, the pain of that would be unbearable for me.

00:48:06.039 --> 00:48:13.360
 And Jesus, who is the second person of the Trinity, and the Holy Spirit can be understood

00:48:13.360 --> 00:48:18.719
 as the unending love of the Son of God for the Father and the unending love of the Father

00:48:18.719 --> 00:48:19.420
 for the Son.

00:48:19.759 --> 00:48:21.719
 And that has been going on for all eternity.

00:48:22.239 --> 00:48:30.400
 And on the cross, as Jesus bears the rebellion and the sin and my death in his very, very person,

00:48:30.400 --> 00:48:38.480
 as he bears my punishment and my destruction, he experiences my banishment from God.

00:48:39.220 --> 00:48:47.160
 And we see that on the cross when Jesus cries out, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

00:48:47.159 --> 00:48:55.839
 And he does it because he's bearing my punishment, my destruction, and my banishment.

00:48:56.639 --> 00:48:59.859
 And he offers me his perfect standing before the Father.

00:49:00.799 --> 00:49:08.319
 And when I put my faith and trust in Jesus, that means I'm accepting what he's done for me

00:49:08.320 --> 00:49:11.160
 on the cross and the great exchange that he offers.

00:49:11.720 --> 00:49:12.340
 Please stand.

00:49:18.280 --> 00:49:23.059
 The Christian life begins by saying, there's something I have to acknowledge.

00:49:24.039 --> 00:49:28.320
 And that I have to acknowledge is that the anthem of my life is, how dare you?

00:49:28.320 --> 00:49:32.039
 And then there's something that I need to believe.

00:49:32.559 --> 00:49:38.180
 I need to believe that Jesus has dealt with that which keeps me far from God.

00:49:38.920 --> 00:49:41.220
 And then I have to consider something.

00:49:41.780 --> 00:49:47.519
 I have to consider that if I accept what was just written on the screen, if I understand

00:49:47.519 --> 00:49:53.660
 and accept that Jesus has borne my punishment, my destruction, and my banishment, and he offers

00:49:53.659 --> 00:49:59.219
 me his place with the Father, that he can reconcile me to God and make me God's adopted child forever,

00:49:59.500 --> 00:50:04.699
 if I accept that, if I accept Jesus into my life as Savior and Lord, that as I'm gripped

00:50:04.699 --> 00:50:06.940
 by the gospel, my life will change.

00:50:08.519 --> 00:50:13.779
 But then there's that moment of decision, that knowing, acknowledging, and believing, and considering

00:50:13.779 --> 00:50:16.899
 the cost, still we would have Jesus as our Savior.

00:50:17.960 --> 00:50:23.039
 We would have Jesus not only save us from our anthem, but that he would teach us to sing a

00:50:23.039 --> 00:50:30.019
 new song, worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power and glory and honor and might

00:50:30.019 --> 00:50:32.619
 and majesty and love forever and ever.

00:50:32.920 --> 00:50:33.320
 Amen.

00:50:34.519 --> 00:50:40.619
 And there's no time better than right now to make such a transaction with God and to speak

00:50:40.619 --> 00:50:45.079
 to Jesus and say, Jesus, you know what the anthem of my life has been.

00:50:45.259 --> 00:50:47.159
 Still you died for me on the cross.

00:50:47.159 --> 00:50:51.500
 Please take me as yours and be my Savior and my Lord.

00:50:52.039 --> 00:50:55.879
 There's no time better than now to pray such a prayer to God.

00:50:56.779 --> 00:51:02.399
 And your own words are all that need, but I'm going to very slowly, with gaps, pray a prayer

00:51:02.399 --> 00:51:03.099
 to help you.

00:51:03.759 --> 00:51:07.500
 And if that is what the Holy Spirit is leading you to do, you don't have to pray it out loud,

00:51:07.799 --> 00:51:12.399
 you don't have to do anything to show it, but just repeat after me, not speaking to me,

00:51:12.400 --> 00:51:14.780
 because I'm not the Savior, but speaking to Jesus.

00:51:16.539 --> 00:51:20.200
 Maybe it's appropriate we pray it with a screaming child in the background.

00:51:21.519 --> 00:51:22.700
 The echoes of hell.

00:51:25.780 --> 00:51:30.900
 So if the Holy Spirit has put such a burden on your heart, just quietly to God, not to

00:51:30.900 --> 00:51:33.380
 me or to your neighbor, but quietly to God, say this.

00:51:33.380 --> 00:51:42.039
 Jesus, I acknowledge that my anthem has been, how dare you.

00:51:43.900 --> 00:51:51.400
 I am sorry for this, and I do not want to sing it ever again.

00:51:51.400 --> 00:52:08.900
 Thank you for dying for me, and bearing the punishment, destruction, and banishment I deserve.

00:52:10.900 --> 00:52:19.579
 Please come into my life as my Savior and my Lord.

00:52:21.400 --> 00:52:22.440
 And never let me go.

00:52:25.099 --> 00:52:32.619
 Make me your disciple, gripped by the gospel, living for your glory.

00:52:34.200 --> 00:52:34.619
 Amen.

00:52:35.900 --> 00:52:37.360
 I'm just going to pray in closing.

00:52:38.119 --> 00:52:42.639
 Father, you know those of us who've once again done some type of transaction with you

00:52:42.639 --> 00:52:48.220
 because we realize that even though we've been redeemed, that that song of how dare you

00:52:48.219 --> 00:52:50.719
 has been becoming the song of our lives.

00:52:50.819 --> 00:52:55.039
 And Father, we know we turned from that when we gave our lives to Jesus, and it's growing

00:52:55.039 --> 00:52:57.339
 within us, and we thank you that you've delivered it from us.

00:52:57.379 --> 00:53:02.679
 And we ask, Father, that you would do a mighty work of your Holy Spirit in our lives to have

00:53:02.679 --> 00:53:05.779
 that be stilled and have that be quietened.

00:53:06.339 --> 00:53:11.619
 And Father, we give you thanks once again for what your Son did for us on the cross.

00:53:11.619 --> 00:53:16.699
 May what he did for us on the cross so grip us that we can live for your glory.

00:53:16.699 --> 00:53:19.399
 Father, we thank you for what he did for us on the cross.

00:53:19.559 --> 00:53:24.119
 And Father, if there are any here who have for the first time prayed and given their lives

00:53:24.119 --> 00:53:28.339
 to Jesus, we ask that your Holy Spirit would fall upon them with might and power and deep

00:53:28.339 --> 00:53:28.819
 conviction.

00:53:29.379 --> 00:53:35.539
 Seal such a decision to them and seal them to be yours forever and ever and ever and ever

00:53:35.539 --> 00:53:36.579
 and ever and ever.

00:53:36.739 --> 00:53:37.139
 Amen.

00:53:37.619 --> 00:53:39.159
 In Jesus' name, amen.

00:53:39.159 --> 00:53:39.299
 Amen.

00:53:39.299 --> 00:53:39.339
 Amen.

00:53:39.339 --> 00:53:39.359
 Amen.